SOUTHEND United right-back Jason Demetriou is hoping to avoid another painful afternoon at Port Vale tomorrow.

The defender missed out on automatic promotion with Walsall at Vale Park on the final game of last season despite the Saddlers securing a 5-0 victory.

And Demetriou is now also desperate to help the Shrimpers see off the Valiants.

“We won there 5-0 but missed out on promotion so it didn’t really count for much in the end,” said the right-back.

“I’d happily take that or just 1-0 tomorrow to be honest but every game and every season is always quite different.

“We know Port Vale are going to be up for it and we have to be even more up for it as we need to win this game to spur us on and settle us down.”

Blues have been beaten in their first two games of the new season.

But Demetriou is confident Blues will soon be back on track.

“We’ve how two bad results but there’s so much in this squad that we know we’re going to be alright,” said the 28-year-old. We’ll be up and ready for Saturday and know that one win would change the mood massively.

“We’re not that down because we know what we’ve got.

“I think one win will kick start our season and hopefully it will come on Saturday.”

And Demetriou also believes the Shrimpers’ style of play will be suited to the Vale Park pitch.

“I think the pitch there will help us,” said Demetriou.

“We just need to use it to our advantage and have two complete halves, just not one.”