SOUTHEND United midfielder Timothee Dieng is keen to finally enjoy an FA Cup run.

The Frenchman has triumphed just twice in four years since moving to England.

And he is determined to improve that record when Blues host Crawley Town in the first round of the competition.

“I like the FA Cup, it’s a very big cup and the games were always on the television when I was younger so I would watch them all,” said Dieng.

“But since I came over here and started playing in it, it hasn’t really gone very well for me.

“In the four years I’ve been playing in England I haven’t really won many games so it would be good for that to change with Southend this season.”

The injury-hit Blues have endured a mixed start to the campaign and are currently 13th in the League One standings after suffering back-to-back defeats on the road.

And Dieng wants Chris Powell’s side to get back on track after suffering a painful 1-0 defeat at Barnsley last time out.

“To concede like we did in the 87th minute from a corner was really tough to take,” said the midfielder.

“Barnsley are a great team who are high up the table but we played well and matched them.

“But we have to move on now and we have three home games coming up, starting with Crawley.”

Blues - like Dieng - head into the game with a poor recent record in the FA Cup having not won in the competition since beating Millwall 4-1 at Roots Hall back in 2014.

Crawley have also failed to impress in the FA Cup in the past few seasons, suffering four successive first round exits.

Town, who are 12th in League Two, head to Roots Hall on the back of two heavy defeats.

But Dieng feels they will be tough to beat tomorrow.

“I know a few of their players from being at Bradford with them,” said Dieng.

“Dominic Poleon, Romain Vincelot and Filipe Morais were there and they’re good players so I’m expecting this to be a difficult game.

“But it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

l Blues will head to Charlton Athletic in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

The Addicks saw off Whitehawk 6-0 in the rearranged first round clash and will now host the Shrimpers.

A date for the tie has yet to be confirmed.

The Shrimpers youngsters continue their league campaign with a trip to Cambridge United this weekend.