SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown will be bidding for third time lucky against Northampton Town boss Justin Edinburgh tomorrow.

Edinburgh started the season with two 3-1 victories when in charge of Gillingham.

But a dip in the Gills’ form saw the former Blues left-back lose his job in January before taking over at the Cobblers just 10 days later.

And Brown is now hoping for a far more successful afternoon against the ex Billericay Town boss.

“It’s crazy how things can change in football, Justin started the season well against us with Gillingham but now finds himself in charge of another team,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“I can remember him sitting in my office after one of those games we had and saying his signings would win him in the league or get him the sack.

“But he was certainly feeling far more positive than I was at that time and it’s a much stronger Southend team he will be facing this time so hopefully we can get a much better result.”

Blues head into Saturday’s game sitting seventh in the table after suffering just two defeats in their last 19 league games.

And Brown is now feeling far more positive about the Shrimpers’ season.

“After the first 12 games we were staring relegation in the face and I remember doing a story about just that in the Echo,” said Brown.

“The pressure back then was horrendous and it was the worst time of my career, “I have been involved in relegation battles in the past but only when we were expected to like with Hull in the Premier League.

“But when you come into a season with hope and expectation and more investment from the chairman it’s horrible, awful pressure to be second from bottom.

“Thankfully it’s much better now and we’re looking up the table not down it.”

Blues will again be without winger Stephen McLaughlin this weekend but the Irishman is only a week to 10 days away from making a return to full training.

Midfielder Will Atkinson serves the second of a three match suspension while goalkeeper Mark Oxley (elbow) is out.