Southend United manager Paul Sturrock craves settled side (From Echo)

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock craves settled side

6:00pm Sunday 28th October 2012 in Sport

SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock feels his side are paying the price for not being able to field a settled starting line-up.

Blues dropped out of the top half of the League Two table following Saturday's bore draw with York City at Roots Hall.

And Sturrock believes having to keep make enforced changes is partly to blame.

“If you look at the top teams in the league at the moment like Port Vale and Gillingham they have settled a team but we don't have that,” said Sturrock.

“They hardly have to make a change but we have people coming in and out with injuries and suspensions and it's not helping at all.

“We have Barry Corr and Mark Phillips not fully fit and Michael Timlin out injured and they're all important players who ideally we need back.

“We have to try and get the same 11 playing well together but at the moment we keep having to change it around.”

Sturrock made another three changes for Saturday's 0-0 against the Minstermen.

But, despite the game being short of excitement, the Blues boss was encouraged by how his side performed in the second half.

“The first half was a hangover from Tuesday night's defeat against Aldershot and we looked tentative but we were on top after half-time,” said Sturrock.

“In fact, in the last 15 minutes or so only one team was going to win the match and that was us.

“It was good to see because York have an excellent away record and have some very good players.

“However, it was just a shame the ball didn't go our way in the box and we had to settle for a draw.”

Blues are now not back in action until they host Stockport County at Roots Hall in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

And, by then, Sturrock hopes to have more players to pick from.

“This break now enables us to have a rest and regroup and some of the players will hopefully come out of the treatment room this week and start pushing the others,” said Sturrock.

“We will have to make at least one change though as Britt Assombalonga hasn't got permission to play from Watford but hopefully others will be available by then.”

Sturrock is also close to signing midfielder Tamika Mkandawire on loan from Millwall but he is also unlikely to be given permission to play from the Lions.