SOUTHEND United will be roared on by a bumper away crowd of close to 1,300 fans at Shrewsbury Town tomorrow.

Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin has laid on free coaches and discounted tickets for the travelling supporters.

And Blues boss Phil Brown is delighted to be having another big crowd right behind his team.

“The chairman has afforded me great support which I thank him for and it would be great if we could get more than 1,000 there,” said Brown.

“We always appreciate the support, we always go over to acknowledge the fans and I think there have only been a few times this season where we have let them down by not performing.

“Charlton was one and before that it was Bristol Rovers which I look at now as a turning point.

“We didn’t turn up in the first half and we were on the coach home for three or four hours after that.

“We knew the supporters were doing the same and I was giving team talks on the way home.

“I was telling the players they had to understand this was people’s livelihoods and lives supporting Southend, playing for Southend United and to win with Southend United which is what we’re aiming for.”

Blues are also aiming for promotion via the play-offs and head into tomorrow’s clash against the Shrews sitting seventh in the League One standings.

Sixth placed Millwall - who are a point above Southend - host 10th placed Oxford United this weekend.

But Shrimpers boss Phil Brown still believes his side will make the play-offs if they win both of their remaining matches.

“Six points will do it I would have thought,” said Brown.

“We need to win both of the games we have left but all we’re thinking about is the game against Shrewsbury.

“People always mention nerve, bottle and anxiety when you got to this stage of the season but we’ve already shown that by getting out of the bottom three.

“We’ve continued to climb the table and would have jumped at being offered the chance to be in this position at this stage.