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Can Southend United avoid relegation? It's a big ask says Steve Tilson

10:44am Monday 15th March 2010 in


SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson believes staying up will be a big ask for the Shrimpers this season.

Tilson’s team have now gone 11 games without a win after they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow strugglers Exeter City at Roots Hall on Saturday.

And that means they remain four points from safety with 11 games to go.

“It’s going to be tough for us to avoid the drop,” said Tilson, 43.

“We have 11 games left, six at home and five away, and we need five wins and a couple of draws from that so it’s a big ask.”

Tilson is also unable to strengthen his squad as the club are still under a transfer embargo after the PFA stepped in to pay the players for January and that makes his job even more difficult.

“Everyone knows we have got an embargo and cannot get anyone in,” said Tilson.

“It’s not easy and we have to keep encouraging the players that we have.

“We had a couple of half-chances and Exeter did as well.

“If we had got the breaks and gone one up we might have held on, but I’m disappointed not to have put the ball in the net.”

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO

Comments(10)

johnnyshrimp says...
12:03pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Yes the next 11 games are crucial, but actually apart from one or two decent performances we really haven't played well this season.

Every manager is disappointed when we 'don't find the back of the net', but I see Vernon has come out on the OS saying how sad he was not to score. For me the service to our two front men has been particularly poor recently - we seem to play from side to side in midfield rather than forward attacking play. Give the strikers some opportunities to score and I am sure they will deliver.

Fingers crossed Tilly won't jump ship and will see us to safety by the end of the season. UTBs

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benfleetblue says...
4:51pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Yet again its the same old story-Tilly (without Brushy now) has to wave his magic wand again. I'm not sure how many tricks he's got up his sleeve this time as hes got no resources to use- Lets hope Steve and co can produce the goods but its going to be hard-'Making a silk purse out of a Sows ear'comes to mind. Up the Blues and in Tilly we trust.

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SARFENDMAN says...
7:57pm Mon 15 Mar 10

With this squad and in this present predicament we'd be lucky to function in The Ryman League let alone Football League.

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Felix Billy says...
8:59pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Possibly one of the worst games of football I've ever seen.

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Barnet Shrimper says...
10:01pm Mon 15 Mar 10

A SHAMBLES, that is the only word to describe the situation the Blues are in..............ON and OFF the field.No one knows how we got into this situation, who is responsible for it, and what the future has in store, other than relegation looming inMay.
How many players will want to stay at Roots Hall with this situation even if their (contracted) wages are paid in time ? Tilson, (a great servant of the Blues) must now rue the day he didn't take any of the opportunities that were rumoured of in the promotion season etc. ? What part did he play in the sacking of Brush, and the somewhat dreadful loss in player transfers over the last few years ?

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Bernard Manning says...
8:37am Tue 16 Mar 10

Currently Southend are the worst performing team in league one with a return in the last eight of 0.37 points per game. On that form and with eleven games to go they are likely to return 4 points. They are currently four points behind Tranmere who occupy the safety position. So, on current form the short answer is no.
The good news is however that the worst thing that will happen is that Southend will be relegated as a result.

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Sir Henry Rawlinson says...
10:23am Tue 16 Mar 10

Bernard Manning - While I can't see the absolute worst case (liquidation) happening, there is a real danger that Uncle Ron will continue his games of brinkmanship with HMRC for so long until the point that Southend are so far into the relegation mire that administration will result in 10 points being deducted at the start of next season not this, meaning a starting point of -10 in League 2.

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Bernard Manning says...
10:34am Tue 16 Mar 10

Absolutely, I agree with you my Viv Stanshall loving friend so the smartest thing is to get the ten points deducted this season is it not?

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Sir Henry Rawlinson says...
12:43pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I consider myself rumbled, Mr Manning. I agree completely - if a 10 point hit is coming, let's get it out the way now and start afresh next season. I would love to be able to say that a few wins would change things but I honestly can't see that happening (sorry).

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Bernard Manning says...
1:35pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Sir, your response is in itself humbling - and for that I salute you.

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