Gilbert wants team effort (From Echo)

Southend United's Peter Gilbert wants team effort

9:30am Friday 10th February 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

PETER Gilbert feels Blues must get back to their organised best to keep alive their push for promotion.

Southend host Rotherham United at Roots Hall tonight having not won in their last three matches.

And Gilbert believes only a collective effort will get Paul Sturrock’s side back on track.

“When we went on a good run it was about being a team not about individuals and that’s what we need again,” said Gilbert.

“Maybe when we got to the top of the league we started to believe our own hype as well and players started to drop off a few percent.

“If you add that all up together then it does make a difference and we need to get back to being a good, organised unit.”

Gilbert also wants to return to keeping clean sheets.

Blues have shut out their opposition just once in the league since the end of October and have conceded 10 goals in their last four outings.

But the left back is now keen to improve that record.

“If you get clean sheets then you get success and we need to start doing that again,” said Gilbert.

“That is also about the whole team though and it’s not just the back four who should get credit when things are going well defensively.

“We defend and attack us a team and help each other out which is what we need because we’re under pressure now.

“Hopefully the breaks can start to go our way again and we can kick on for the final few months of the season.”

FULL STORY IN FRIDAY'S ECHO