Southend United's Sean Clohessy: Let's get back to basics (From Echo)

Southend United's Sean Clohessy: Let's get back to basics

12:06pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SEAN Clohessy believes Southend United must get back to basics if they are to keep alive their push for promotion.

Blues have fallen out of the top seven places in League Two after winning just one of their last seven outings.

And Clohessy feels Paul Sturrock’s team need to alter their style if they are to work their way back into contention.

“We need to start getting the ball out wide again and getting crosses into the box because that’s not happening enough at the moment,” said the reliable right-back.

“I think we’re going long too early and we need to get back to basics again.

“I don’t think we’ve been playing that well and we’ve been grinding out results rather than earning them and we have to try and change that.”

Southend’s next chance to impress comes at high-flying Port Vale this weekend.

And Clohessy wants the game to kick-start Blues’ season.

“Saturday is a very hard match as they have a very good home record,” said the former Arsenal trainee.

“After that we have three home games against teams in the bottom five and we have to be looking at getting nine points from them if we want to be getting promotion.”

Clohessy believes Southend may have to win eight out of their remaining 11 matches to secure a top-seven finish.

And he could well captain the side in some of those matches after being given the armband for Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Rotherham United at Roots Hall.

“It was a real honour and surprise for me to be the captain,” said Clohessy.

“I thought Luke Prosser had done well, but the gaffer decided to change it.

“I didn’t change the way I played and I think I’m more someone who leads by example rather than being quite vocal.”