IT’S ALL to play for at Roots Hall tonight and it’s a huge night for the football club as we face Stevenage in the second leg of our play-off semi-final.

It’s 1-1 on aggregate going into the tie and I’m always happy to be drawing a game at half-time if I’m honest.

It gives you a reason to go out in the second half to produce your best football which is what we will be attempting to do tonight.

On Sunday, I felt as though we played better after the break, we were more of a threat and we played a bit more football too.

That came over when I watched the game back which also meant listening to the Sky commentary.

They talked about how many long balls we were playing into the strikers but the reason for that was that the surface just wasn’t conducive to be playing down that right hand side in the first half.

We did still have two or three chances to score in the first half but the bottom line is the Roots Hall pitch could now play a massive, massive part in the tie now.

I’ve been on at the groundsman all year about the quality of the pitch and I think it’s going to play a big part in the style of game we’re going to play.

GRAHAM WESTLEY IS RIGHT

I’ve seen Graham Westley has said his team will be stepping up their game for the second leg and I think they need to tell you the truth.

In the first leg you have to say the better team were the ones who were playing away from home and we now want to be the better team again this evening.

Sunday was a brutal game, it was feisty and the kind of game I would loved to have been playing in myself.

But the types of players who play for Southend enjoy these games too and if it’s going to be like that again this evening then bring it on.

However, we will certainly be looking to play a lot more football to work Stevenage more when we’ve got the ball.

CHANGE OR NOT?

The $64 million question is whether or not to make changes to the team after being quite comfortable and comprehensive in our performance at Stevenage. We’re back at Roots Hall and there’s an opportunity for us to win the tie but I don’t want the players thinking they need to do that in the first minute.

If you do that then you can end up losing because you’re taking too many chances and there is no need for us to take risks.

We just need to play the type of football we know we can play because in our two legged tie there’s no away goals counting double and it’s now just a one off game to decide who goes through.

Both teams have had a look at each other and now we need to bring our best attacking game to the party while also making sure the back door is kept shut.

CROWD CAN BE OUR 12TH MAN

I’M SURE there will be a big crowd tonight and the crowd can really be a 12th man for us.

I’ve been told all about the big nights at Roots Hall and I want to sample one myself.

Adam Barrett has been involved in many of them so let’s hope he has another one in him this evening and it’s us going through to Wembley.