Southend United's Ryan Cresswell insists defending is still his main focus (From Echo)

Southend United's Ryan Cresswell insists defending is still his main focus

6:28pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in Blues By Chris Phillips

RYAN Cresswell will be perfectly happy to resume his defensive duties when Southend United host Dagenham & Redbridge at Roots Hall this weekend.

Cresswell has scored twice in Blues’ last three games after being pushed up front in the latter stages.

But he knows his main role is to still keep opposing strikers quiet at the other end.

“First and foremost I’m a centre half and that’s where the gaffer signed me to play,” said Cresswell, 24.

“He wants me to be a dominant defender there and I’m enjoying it.

“I feel like things have been going well alongside Mark Phillips and it’s certainly my main position.

“However, if the manager does want to put me up front again at any stage then I’ll be perfectly happy to do so.”

Cresswell bagged his first Blues goal in the 3-3 draw at Northampton Town at the end of August and repeated the trick against AFC Wimbledon in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.

The former Rotherham United man crashed home an injury time header from Neil Harris’ left wing cross.

And he was quick to dedicate the goal to his sister, Melanie, who began her travels of Australia on the same day.

“That goal was for my sister,” said Cresswell. “She’s going travelling around Australia for a year and that was the best way for me to send her on her way.

“It was also great for us to get the win because we certainly deserved it. We had enough chances in the first half alone to have won it, but we got there in the end.”

That made it three games unbeaten for Blues, who have also triumphed in their last two outings.

But Cresswell knows it will be tough to make it a hat-trick of victories against Dagenham this weekend.

“Dagenham are a very good side but you never know what you’re going to get from them,” said the defender.

“On their day they play some great stuff but they can be quite inconsistent so hopefully we can beat them and get another three points.