SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is unsure how Bury will react to the added pressure they are facing at Roots Hall this weekend.

Port Vale’s 1-0 win at Walsall on Tuesday now means the 19th placed Shakers are not safe from relegation heading into Sunday’s showdown.

But Brown does not know if that will alter their approach to the game.

“I’m not sure how much difference the midweek results will make to Bury but they’re obviously under more pressure now and there’s a lot more at stake for them,” said the Blues boss.

“I’m purely focusing on our performance and what we have to do but it does mean they’re not going to be on the beach.

“I would imagine it would also mean they’re going to bring more fans to the game which is only going to add to the atmosphere and that can only be a good thing.

“There’s a lot on the game for both of us now.”

Bury will head into the game two points above the relegation zone and will be nervously checking the results of their rivals.

Port Vale - who remain fourth from bottom - face a tough looking trip to third placed Fleetwood Town while Gillingham, another side in danger of going down, are in action at Northampton Town who are managed by their former boss and ex Shrimpers defender Justin Edinburgh.

Seventh placed Blues will also be looking at results from elsewhere as they aim to overtake Millwall, who are in action at Bristol Rovers.

And Brown believes it will be impossible to avoid knowing how the other games are going.

“I won’t be tracking the scores from the other games because I’m 100 per cent focused on the match we’re involved in but we will know what’s going on because of the reaction of the fans,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“At Shrewsbury at the weekend we all knew when Oxford had scored because of the noise in the away end and then Ben Coker, who was sat to the side of the dug-out, confirmed to me what was going on.

“I’m sure Sunday will be the same and the fans are going to be looking at their phones to keep track of Millwall’s game.

“But I won’t actively be looking elsewhere.”

>BLUES have extended Christian Walton’s loan spell from Brighton & Hove Albion in order for him to feature in Sunday’s game with Bury.

Walton has started the last six games between the sticks for the Shrimpers after Ted Smith was forced to the sidelines with a wrist injury.