All Smiles by the Seaside

Blimey. After my last blog praising the mighty Shrimpers and how they sit proudly at the top of Npower League 2 I fully expected it to be the kiss of death and they would come crashing down quicker than a kid who’s eaten too many Halloween sweets.

However, we remain unbeaten in 9 and sit back at the top of the league (albeit still on goal difference) after creepy Crawley could only draw. We even managed to break the dreaded Manager of the Month curse after Paul Sturrock won the award for September. He’s been nominated again for October – if he wins it again can we continue to keep getting results and finally destroy the hex?

After a 2 nil win up at Macclesfield on Saturday (a place that, for me, is a personification of bottom division grim up North football if ever there was one) it now seems anything is possible and nothing will stop the mighty Blue army from marching on to some silverware come May 2012.

Something myself and my fellow fans have noticed this season, something which only really happens to other clubs, is this strange thing called ‘strength in depth’.  Our bench contains at least 4 players who, in any other season, would be first name on the team sheet starters. However these guys are now reduced to bit-part substitute appearances, such is the way things are going with the first eleven. A settled and consistent side is always the key to winning matches (that and keeping clean sheets of course) and suddenly SUFC have found it. Even an injury to our first choice goalkeeper Glenn Morris hasn’t disrupted proceedings – Luke Daniels arrived from West Bromwich Albion on loan, took his place between the sticks, and has had nowt to do for 2 games.

Fourth placed Oxford United arrive in town this coming Saturday, another stern test of resolve for the boys in blue. Not only that but the Southend stattos will tell you that November is not our favourite month – we collect fewer points in November than any other month of the season. And with a tough FA Cup tie away at Preston thrown in then surely, for Southend fans anyway, November is the cruelest month, not April Mr.Eliot ( Google it ).

Still I’m sure that, now Luggy and the boys have found it, the winning formula will continue. Up The Shrimpers!

Lee Morgan @LeeM_007