SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock was disappointed to see his side’s home clash with Plymouth Argyle called off because of a frozen Roots Hall pitch on Saturday.

But the Scotsman did admit the postponement had handed Blues a much needed rest.

Sturrock’s team had played eight games in 26 days ahead of the scheduled clash against the Pilgrims.

And Southend would also have been without the injured Kevan Hurst, Ryan Cresswell, Marc Laird and Britt Assombalonga had the match gone ahead at the weekend.

Despite that, however, Sturrock did want the game to go ahead so his side could bounce back from an indifferent run of results.

And he was frustrated at not being able to face his former team. “It is disappointing to have the game called off because we’re desperate to get back to winning ways in the League and try to put the FA Cup defeat behind us,” said Sturrock.

“Unfortunately that will have to wait another week now because we haven’t got a mid-week game either this week.

“But we’ve now got lots of time to prepare for a tough trip to Chesterfield and, in some ways, the postponement is a benefit in kind.

“We’ve got quite a few injuries at the moment and they wouldn’t have been available for Saturday, so it’s good in that sense.”

The Plymouth game being called off also means new midfielder Michael Spillane will have had more time to settle in with the Southend squad before making his debut.

And Sturrock also feels that will benefit Blues.

“What’s happened will also give us time to allow Michael to settle in and get to know everyone,” said Sturrock.

“Sometimes it’s difficult going straight into a side after a couple of days, so that could help him and us. But the overriding factor was one of disappointment because we’ve prepared for the game and I know the fans were looking forward to being back at Roots Hall.”

The postponement also led to Blues slipping out of the play-off positions and down to eighth in the League Two table after Northampton Town beat Burton Albion 1-0 to jump ahead of Southend in the standings.