MICHAEL Timlin wants Southend United to show their promotion credentials when they head to Stevenage tomorrow.

The Shrimpers will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley.

And Timlin believes Blues must respond in the right manner if they are to remain in the race for a top three finish.

“We know we can get something from this game and we know we probably have to as well after losing to Accrington,” said the 29-year-old midfielder.

“Defeats are part and parcel of football and you’re always going to get results you’re not happy with but it’s how you react to them that matters.

“I would like to think we have the mentality in the squad this season to be able to bounce back straight away.

“We’re still looking above us and not below so we need a result to stay in touch with the top three and show we’re still very much race for automatic promotion.”

Blues are currently fifth in the League Two table, two points behind third placed Wycombe Wanderers.

But Timlin knows the Shrimpers will need to work tirelessly if they are to close that gap with a win at Stevenage.

“We know we will be in for a battle and we will have to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in because Stevenage are that type of team,” said the midfielder.

“You have to fight for everything against them but I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s one of those games you would like to have after a defeat and I’m not really looking at it like we’re going there on the back of a defeat.

“I’m looking at it as one defeat in our last 17 league games so our confidence still remains high.”

Timlin now wants Blues to immediately get back to winning ways.

And he would love to help make that happen by scoring his first goal since April 2014 when he hit the back of the net in a 3-0 win at Rochdale. “Last year I got three or four goals and I wanted to try and add to that this season,” said Timlin.

“But with the injury I got and the holding role I was playing it made me think more about the defensive job I was doing.

“However, we all need to come up with goals because the teams higher up than us are scoring more goals than we are.

“There’s nothing wrong with winning 1-0 instead of 3-2 or whatever but we have players here who are capable of scoring goals.

“I want to try and make sure I score at least one this season but the main thing is helping the team as much as possible to make sure we get promotion. “