Southend United manager Paul Sturrock stunned by 6-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur (From Echo)

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock stunned by 6-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur

7:29pm Saturday 11th August 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock was left stunned by his side’s 6-0 defeat to a Tottenham Hotspur XI at Roots Hall on Friday night.

Blues were easily brushed aside by a young Spurs team.

And that resulted in Sturrock suffering the heaviest reverse of his entire footballing career. “I’m in shock to be honest,” said the Scotsman.

“I have been in this game for 37 years now as player, coach and manager and had never lost 6-0 so this is a new experience for me.

“Tottenham were the best team we’ve played in a long time though and they were absolutely magnificent but I’m gutted by that score and some of the performances.

“Some people are definitely going to pay the penalty for that.” Spurs took the lead in the 17th minute when Souleymane Coulibaly converted a cross from Andros Townsend and Harry Kane made it 2-0 just before the break.

In the second half, Kane and Townsend soon netted before Kane completed his hat-trick by squeezing a shot under Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Jonathan Obika then completed the scoring and Sturrock now wants to see the right kind of reaction when Blues start their season for real tomorrow night with a trip to Peterborough United in the League Cup.

“I stayed in with the players for 30 minutes after the game and hopefully this result can be a kick up the backside required for us to have a good start to the season,” Sturrock added.

Southend United: Bentley, Clohessy, Straker, Leonard (Hurst 64), Phillips, Prosser, Hall (Martin 64), Ferdinand, Harris (Benyon 52), Eastwood, Spicer.

Subs not used: Barker, Chambers, Brogan, Donnelly.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Ryan (Priestley 82); Smith, Ekong (Stewart 70), Hall, Rose; Carroll (Pritchard 70), Mason; Falque (Gomelt 74), Kane, Townsend; Coulibaly