SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is standing by Shrimpers skipper Anton Ferdinand.

The defender’s displays have been criticised in recent weeks and he was brushed aside by Wes Thomas for Oxford United’s equaliser last weekend.

Ferdinand was also sarcastically cheered by Blues fans when completing clearances in the second half against the U’s.

But Brown has confirmed Ferdinand will be staying in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash with Oldham Athletic.

“Anton will play,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“He is forming a new partnership with a team-mate (Michael Turner) but I expected them to have played 20 games together by this stage of the season, not just two or three.”

Ferdinand will be eager to impress as Blues look to end a run of three League games without a win.

But Brown is expecting a tricky test against an Oldham team who have improved significantly since appointing Richie Wellens as manager in October.

“Richie has taken to management like a duck to water and Oldham are a form team now,” said Brown.

“They’ve had two 0-0 draws but I spoke to both managers from the teams they played and they said how much Oldham are playing and that it’s open, expansive football from them.

“I think they dominated the two draws so there are certain things about the game we have to be aware of but there are certain things about our game which I’m more than aware of too.”

Blues - who head into the game sitting in 14th place - have scored just twice in their last three games despite creating a number of clear cut chances.

But Brown remains confident his side will soon start scoring on a more regular basis.

“We’ve had more than 85 crosses going into the penalty area in the last two games and that should result in six or seven goals but we’ve only got a couple,” said Brown.

“The players need to have that belief when they go into the penalty area and eventually things will start to fall for us.

“And if we keep believing then we will start to see teams off and it’s only a matter of time until we start to score more goals.

“You can analyse our negativities and look at dropped points or missed penalties but I’ve got to look at the positives.

“We’ve been in control of a lot of games but haven’t gone on to win them.”