SOUTHEND United’s assistant manager Graham Coughlan is refusing to get too carried away ahead of tomorrow’s local derby with Colchester.

Blues go into the game sitting seventh in the table.

But Coughlan remains focused on hitting the side’s first target of the season.

“We’re still aiming to get to 50 points as quickly as we can,” said the Irishman.

“It’s easy to get carried away and I do it too.

"When Ireland beat Germany back in October I started to think we could go and win the European Championships but we have to keep our feet on the ground.

“Our goal at the start of the season coming into a new league was to get to 50 points and we’re a couple of wins away from that now.

“If we can reach that total from 30 games then it would be a huge achievement for the football club and then maybe we can reassess our goals and targets from there.”

Blues are currently outside the play-off positions on goal difference and are strong favourites for tomorrow’s encounter.

But Coughlan fully expects Colchester to pose problems going forward.

“Burton are top of the league and have only scored one more goal than Colchester so they’re strong in attack and have some dangerous players,” said Coughlan.

“They leak goals at the back but we’re at the stage of the season now where they will have to come out and play because of the position they’re in.

“I’m expecting an open game and a blood and thunder type local derby which is exactly the type of game which makes me wish I was still playing.”