Southend United's Matthew Lund out to silence taunts of Port Vale supporters (From Echo)

Southend United's Matthew Lund out to silence taunts of Port Vale supporters

11:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Chris Phillips

MATTHEW Lund wants to silence Port Vale’s supporters by helping Southend United secure a vital victory against them this weekend.

Lund is likely to receive a hostile reception from the home fans at Vale Park as he is currently with Blues on loan from their arch rivals Stoke City.

But the 22-year-old is desperate to come out on top and help Southend breathe life back in to their push for the play-offs.

“Whenever I’ve played at Port Vale before I’ve got quite a bit of stick and I’m sure tomorrow will be no different,” said Lund.

“I’ve also been at Crewe as well as Stoke which probably doesn’t make me the most popular person among the Port Vale fans so it would be nice to go there and win because it’s a really important game.

“Both clubs are challenging for promotion and we need the points because we were all disappointed to have drawn against Rotherham in our last game.”

The share of the spoils means eighth placed Blues are now eight points below the play-off positions and are in need of a win at Vale Park this weekend.

However, that will be had as Vale sit second in the standings and Lund has already been beaten there 4-0 this season while on loan with Bristol Rovers.

“When I played there before Port Vale were pretty much unstoppable, especially Tom Pope who scored a hat-trick,” said Lund.

“I therefore know how good they can be but their results haven’t been quite as good just recently and hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

Lund hopes a victory can push Blues right back in to contention.

But he is not thinking beyond the next two matches, when his month long loan spell from Stoke comes to an end.

“I’m focusing on the games I have left and I’m not sure what will happen after that,” said Lund.

“I’d like to stay and be involved and that’s what I’d prefer to happen because I feel settled here now.

“Like any footballer, I want to play matches but it will be up to the manager I guess and if he wants me to stay.”