SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher feels former Blues manager Mark Molesley will make Aldershot tough to beat on Tuesday night.

Molesley has won seven of his 20 games in charge of the Shots since being appointed in September.

And Maher is bracing himself for another tough test at the EBB Stadium.

“We’ve watched them play and you can tell they’re very well coached,” said Maher.

“Mark has got them going well and he’s a really good guy.

“I’ve met him once or twice with the 23s and people here say the same about him.

“But we will have to be on it to get a result and we can’t afford to drop off at all.

“I’ve been to one or two of their games and they’re always organised so this will be a real test but it’s one we’re looking forward too.”

Molesley bossed Blues between August 2020 and April 2021 but won just eight times in 45 outings during a difficult time in the club’s history.

The 40-year-old is now looking to rebuild his managerial career with Aldershot and the early signs have been promising.

But, just like Aldershot, Blues have also started to improve in recent weeks and go into this evening’s game off the back of three straight wins.

However, Maher is not reading too much into the recent results.

“We’re in decent form but nobody is getting carried away,” said Maher.

“We’ve got some decent results by doing the basics right and doing things to the highest standard with and without the ball.

“We have to keep that going because it’s easy to come off it and then come unstuck.

“We’re delighted with the three wins but there’s a lot of work to do.

“Aldershot will be a tough game and we will need to be organised going there.

“They had a good result at the weekend too, drawing at Chesterfield, so it’s a tough game but it’s one we will be ready for.”

Blues’ wins have taken them to 18th in the table, just one place and one point behind Aldershot with two games in hand.

The Shrimpers have right-back Jason Demetriou available again after he missed Friday’s 2-1 win against King’s Lynn with a one match ban.

And Maher is pleased with the added competition for places.

“We’re in a better place now than when we came in back in October,” said the Blues boss.

“There’s good healthy competition now and that’s good for everyone.”