The Blues
Tilly: My underdogs can finish the job
STEVE Tilson wants his side to finish off the job at Doncaster Rovers tonight.
The 41-year-old boss admits the Shrimpers are underdogs ahead of the second leg at the Keepmoat Stadium.
But he also knows there is enough talent in the team to secure a famous victory.
"Our away record has been good recently and we have enough about us to go there and win," said Tilson.
"There is still everything to play for. It's a one-off game and if we get the win then we're into the final.
"I said before the first leg that we're underdogs and I still believe that, but we can definitely get a result there to finish off the job."
That would secure a final appearance at Wembley for Tilson and his team and would also push them closer to working their way back into the Championship at the first attempt.
"That's the aim for this football club and it's where we want to be," he said.
"We've done superbly to get ourselves into this position and now we need just one last push."
Tilson hopes to have striker Lee Barnard fit, while there are again doubts over another of the Shrimpers' forwards Hal Robson Kanu, who has an Achilles problem.
Winger Damian Scannell has travelled though and hopes to fare better than his younger brother Sean who plays for Crystal Palace and crashed out at the semi final stage at Bristol City on Tuesday.
"Sean was obviously devastated at losing because they had a chance of going into the Premier League," said Scannell.
"I told him he would have further chances as he's only 17 but hopefully we'll get the right result tonight and can go on to get promotion so I can play against him next season."
Southend (from): Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Moussa, McCormack, Bailey, Gower, Walker, Revell, Barnard, Black, Collis, MacDonald, Robson-Kanu, Scannell, Hooper and Liptak.
l STEVE Tilson will be swapping the dugout for the pitch tomorrow when he plays in a cup-final.
With Southend one win away from a play-off final showdown at Wembley, the Shrimpers manager will be taking to the Roots Hall pitch with Tag United.
The Premier Division side will be facing arch-rivals Chapel United in the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League Charity Cup final at 10.30am.
"We have played them twice this season and have lost both times, so we will be looking for revenge tomorrow," said Tag manager Alan Houghton.
"We are arch-rivals so it should be a good game, and whoever wins will deserve it."
2:59pm Friday 16th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: dave turner on 11:10pm Fri 16 May 08
Oh for the late goals given away in the last 20 minutes or so in numerous games.
If this had not happened we would probably got automatic promotion.
To lose by 5-1 at Doncaster we don't deserve to be in a higher league.
What is the new proposed Stadium just another developers dream that happens to include a football club.
Sorry to be so negative but I cannot see anything to be positive about.
From a supporter who started watching the Blues at the old Greyhound Stadium just after the last war. Still living in anticipation of better things to come, but I cant live for ever.
Oh for the late goals given away in the last 20 minutes or so in numerous games.
If this had not happened we would probably got automatic promotion.
To lose by 5-1 at Doncaster we don't deserve to be in a higher league.
What is the new proposed Stadium just another developers dream that happens to include a football club.
Sorry to be so negative but I cannot see anything to be positive about.
From a supporter who started watching the Blues at the old Greyhound Stadium just after the last war. Still living in anticipation of better things to come, but I cant live for ever.
Posted by: leeroy on 11:49pm Fri 16 May 08
Ok we deserved to lose. Look at this way though. Frisrtly we should have scored first. Secondly a debatable penalty decision, thirdly every shot for them hitting the back of the net and last thing I thought the ref gave them a lot more than us. Negative point I don't understand why Tilson didn't try to change formation to change the way the game was going. 4-4-2 doesn't always work! I have add having not gone the game that Southend supporters were truly amazing and deserved better. However I've just seen Clarkie back on the T.V showing the kind of emotion that reflects how much it meant to let them supporters down. Hold your head up high Clarkie mate, im proud of you!
Ok we deserved to lose. Look at this way though. Frisrtly we should have scored first. Secondly a debatable penalty decision, thirdly every shot for them hitting the back of the net and last thing I thought the ref gave them a lot more than us. Negative point I don't understand why Tilson didn't try to change formation to change the way the game was going. 4-4-2 doesn't always work! I have add having not gone the game that Southend supporters were truly amazing and deserved better. However I've just seen Clarkie back on the T.V showing the kind of emotion that reflects how much it meant to let them supporters down. Hold your head up high Clarkie mate, im proud of you!
Posted by: Shrimper Boy, East Black on 12:16pm Sat 17 May 08
Shell Shocked & Gutted!!!
When you love the blues its hard to critise any individual player, but i think we know we only have half the quaility team we need to progress. The Shrimper crowd were fantastic, and a credit to the club, and i would like to think that at the end the Donnie fans that came over were applauding our support. After watching poor Flav's pick the ball out of the back of net 5x times, reffing of the lowest standard, my heart was lifted by seeing the Blues fans given good TV coverage of out singing Donnie and behaving in away that makes me PROUD to be a shrimper!!!
UP THE BLUES
Shell Shocked & Gutted!!!
When you love the blues its hard to critise any individual player, but i think we know we only have half the quaility team we need to progress. The Shrimper crowd were fantastic, and a credit to the club, and i would like to think that at the end the Donnie fans that came over were applauding our support. After watching poor Flav's pick the ball out of the back of net 5x times, reffing of the lowest standard, my heart was lifted by seeing the Blues fans given good TV coverage of out singing Donnie and behaving in away that makes me PROUD to be a shrimper!!!
UP THE BLUES
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