SUPERSTITIOUS Southend United manager Phil Brown is hoping his lucky shirt can help the Shrimpers secure a fourth successive win when they host Shrewsbury Town tomorrow.

Brown has worn his favourite shirt throughout Blues’ recent run of good results.

And he will again be pitch-side in it at Roots Hall this weekend.

“It’s even lucky the way I got it and I’ll be wearing it again on Saturday for sure,” said Brown.

“I went in to Southend high street and liked the shirt straight but I saw it had 75 per cent off it attracted me even more.

“I’ve worn it four times now and I think we’ve won all four games.

“I didn’t wear after the first of those wins and we actually lost so I decided to bring it back.

“But I’ve washed it in between so it doesn’t smell and I’ll definitely be in it tomorrow.”

Southend’s good form has taken them up to fourth in the League Two table, just two places higher than Shrewsbury.

However, the Shrews have also excelled in the Capital One Cup, beating Championship club Norwich City 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Micky Mellon’s side will now face Chelsea in the next round.

And Brown is hoping the cup heroics could distract Shrewsbury from their league campaign.

“We’re hoping it will be a good time to catch them,” said the Blues boss.

“Their league form suggests they might be taking one eye off things and hopefully that will lead to a positive outcome for us.

“But these things can work both ways because the players will want to make sure of their place in the team for the Chelsea game.

“They will also be on a massive high but I’m obviously just focusing on Southend and making sure we play well.”

Blues will also be heading in to the game after what Brown believes is his best week yet in charge of the club.

“We’ve got nine points from nine beating Portsmouth, Cheltenham and York, who you would expect to all be there,” said Brown.

“We beat two of them away from home too so I think this has been my best week since being with the club.

“Now we want to keep it going and, just like Shrewsbury, we’re also on a high.

“If we can have our best defensive heads on then it will make for a fantastic game and hopefully another three points.”

Blues will again be without elbow injury victims Ben Coker and Michael Timlin while Ryan Leonard is also out with a hamstring problem.

Defender Cian Bolger, who has been out since the end of August with a thigh problem, faces another late fitness test but Barry Corr has now fully recovered from a neck injury.