Source: FOOTYMAD
Sturrock: 'Will look for more of our Ipswich 2nd half performance from the start'
The Shrimpers start their final home pre-season friendly tonight against our highest placed opponents, the Premiership Canaries, and this will not be their under-18 side! After two consequtive promotions Norwich City have ended up in the Premier League next season and as part of their build-up ex-head Farmer Paul Lambert will be bringing his Canaries to take on the Shrimpers in another pre-season friendly to take place at Roots Hall on Thursday, July 28th; kick-off 19.45. Ticket prices are £10 for adults and £5 for concessions with only the East and West Stand open for home supporters. This completes an East Anglia double with Ipswich Town visiting south-east Essex last Friday where the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Should be a good game with a decent gate, especially as they have promised a full strength side that will now include Millwall's Welsh striker Steve Morison. The Lions forward scored 17 goals last season and is now close to completing a remarkable rise from non-league football to the Premier League! It should also raise the noise level as a few of his former club's fans have promised to gain entrance to the game, to say hi again to their former scoring legend Neil 'Bomber' Harris, but also to pass on their regards to Morison who they were less than pleased when he came out amd made it clear he wanted to leave the new Den. Should make for some pleasant language being heard on a nice English summers evening! No team news from Carrow Road yet, but two of the recent hat-trick of Shrimpers signings should be seen for the home side, midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala and right-back Ryan Leonard, but we might have to wait for striker Liam Dickinson who is carrying a slight ankle problem. In fact, Blues boss Paul Sturrock will want to start with his strongest possible side with the opening game with Hereford United only nine days away. Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "Norwich will be the biggest test we are going to face yet. They have made a few new signings and are obviously a Premier League side now. We gave a good account of ourselves against Ipswich last week and I will be looking for more of our second half performance from the start. This match will give me the clearest indication yet of what my starting line-up might be for the when the season starts so it is up to the players out there to play their way into that." Does that mean Luggy going for Bilel Mohsni up front from the start as Harris looked a touch lost with the two winger approach that was used in the less than inspiring first half against the Tractor Boys? A lot depends on the fitness of the tall targetman Dickinson in that case. Shrimpers Pre-Season Schedule Monday, July 11th - Dartford 0 Southend United 3 Tuesday, July 12th - Great Wakering Rovers 0 Southend United 5 Saturday, July 16th - Dundee 2 Southend United 0 Sunday, July 17th - Raith Rovers 0 Southend United 0 Wednesday, July 20th - Braintree Town 1 Southend United X1 1 Friday, July 22nd - Southend United 1 Ipswich Town 1 Monday, July 25th - Needham Market 0 Southend United 5 Thursday, July, 28th - NORWICH CITY (HOME), 19.45 Saturday, July 30th - Canvey Island (away), 15.00. (SUFC X1)
