Shrimpers host Dons In crucial relegation showdown

Southend United welcome MK Dons to Roots Hall on Boxing Day in a massive bottom of the table Sky Bet League One clash.

The Shrimpers, led by Sol Campbell, come into this tie on the back of a 3-2 defeat away at League 1 basement side Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. They know a defeat in this fixture could end up meaning they’re bottom of the league table at 5pm, should Bolton secure a win at Sunderland.

The Dons, now led by former-Norwich City defender Russell Martin, come into this game off a 3-1 defeat to Gillingham on Saturday with their goal coming from Alex Gilbey. The Dons know a victory over Southend could see them leapfrog out of the relegation places, with Tranmere Rovers or AFC Wimbledon moving above, should either suffer heavy defeats to Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers.

Team news

Earlier this week, Southend’s 19-year-old midfielder Dru Yearwood signed for Championship side Brentford for an undisclosed fee, having progressed through the academy. However, on Wednesday, the Shrimpers announced the loan signing of Layton Ndukwu from Leicester for the season.

New signing Liam Ridgewell could make his debut for the Shrimpers as could Ndukwu. Southend will monitor Simon Cox who featured off the bench last weekend at Coventry whilst Rob Kiernan will miss out due to ligament damage.

For Blackpool, only midfielder Matty Virtue will miss out with a thigh injury but otherwise, manager Simon Grayson has still got a strong squad to choose from.

Sol Campbell:

“It’s been a good week. We were disappointed [last weekend]because it was the first game of the season and we didn’t start the game like we wanted and there were reasons for it, but we couldn’t get after them like we wanted to until we had made a change.

“Then we did but had gone a goal behind. We did enough to get back in it, had a couple of really good opportunities but it wasn’t to be.

“I think we learnt a lesson, or I would like to think we learnt a lesson from that, and the key is not to make the same mistake again. We may all make mistakes but hopefully we don’t make the same mistake again.”

Russell Martin:

“We’ve got a good squad here, which we want to keep adding to. If a player leaves at any stage of the season that will be because it’s the right thing for the football club.

“We want more bodies in the building to make sure we have difficult decisions to make about who to leave out.

“I’ve said to the players, ‘If you’ve got the shirt for the first game of the season, then do whatever is required to make sure you’ve still got it at the end of the season. If you’ve done that, then you’ve done something right.”

Head-to-head

Southend wins: 4

Draws: 2

MK Dons wins: 8