Southend face Burton as bid for League One survival continues

Southend United welcome Burton Albion to Roots Hall on Easter Monday where the Shrimpers will be desperate for three points in a bid to get themselves out of the Sky Bet League One relegation places.

Kevin Bond’s side were unfortunate to concede a last minute penalty on Friday at fellow-strugglers Walsall which resulted in their game finishing 1-1 whilst Nigel Clough’s Burton saw their bleak play-off hopes suffer a fall following a 2-1 defeat to play-off chasing Portsmouth at The Pirelli Stadium.

The Blues have not won in 15 games and they’ve not won a game at Roots Hall since New Years Day. In their last ten games, they’ve managed only two draws and eight defeats which is concerning for their fans.

A win for Southend tomorrow could see them rise up as high as 18th as long as other results go their way. This would also end Burton’s slim chances of making the play-offs which are mathematically possible with a win potentially putting the pressure on Doncaster, Peterborough and Coventry who all reside above them in the league table.

Burton’s play-off chances will end regardless of their result against Southend if Doncaster avoid defeat to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

Kevin Bond gave his thoughts ahead of his side’s game against Burton Albion:

“I’ve got nothing but praise for the lads really because I thought they put in a terrific performance [at Walsall]. The only thing I think we may be guilty of is we had a couple of chances to wrap the game up, but I don’t think that excuses the referee for making the mistakes that he’s made.

“I couldn’t complain about the attitude and the applications of the players, I thought they were first class. We’ve got to do the same again [against Burton], the same sort of performance on Monday; three games to go we’ve got to keep fighting.”

Nigel Clough had this to say ahead of his side’s trip to Southend:

“They will be fighting and scrapping for their lives. Every team we are up against at the moment has something to play for which is good as they get a bit nervy and edgy at times.

“Southend will have three games which will all be cup finals and it will be a warm day down there with only a couple of days in between to rest.

“I hope our lads want to take the injustice of the result against Portsmouth out on Southend. We have been playing well all season and no team in the league will be too keen on playing us at the moment.”

Team News:

Stephen Humphrys is tipped at having a “slim chance” of playing for Southend following his return from injury with a hamstring problem. Simon Cox and Harry Bunn are hoped to have recovered sufficiently from Friday’s defeat at Walsall, but Blues manager Kevin Bond does have Charlie Kelman or Emile Acquah who can play in attack.

Sam Hart will need to be assessed, while Luke Hyam’s early return from a hamstring problem will give Blues a boost in midfield. Jason Demetriou is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Burton saw Scott Fraser, Stephen Quinn and Marcus Harness all forced off in their Good Friday defeat against Portsmouth so whether they’ll feature is unsure yet. Brad Collins will be absent thanks to a groin issue, whilst Jake Buxton could also miss the game.