Southend United boss Rob Newman has ordered his troops to complete the second part of their Roots Hall mission against Bristol Rovers tomorrow.
The Shrimpers chief demanded maximum points from two home games last weekend and everything went to plan with a 3-0 trouncing of Hull City.
And Newman now wants his players to finish the job and push Blues nearer the promotion play-off zone by compounding more misery on the relegation-haunted Pirates.
Rob Newman - wants Blues to pick up another three points tomorrow Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
"I asked for six points from two home games and we are half way there," said the Southend manager, whose team are 12th in the league table, four points short of seventh spot.
"But the Bristol Rovers match will be a completely different affair. Hull were in a similar position as us, sitting in mid-table and hoping to climb further up the table.
"However, Rovers are fighting for their lives and we know we need to be up for it tomorrow as we will have a battle on our hands.
"The Hull victory will mean nothing if we don't carry on in the same vain against Rovers.
"And I've been trying to get it into the players' minds this week that we face a very difficult game.
"It's very tight at the bottom of the table, with five or six clubs in real danger of the drop, and I think Rovers will go for the win when they come here.
"But if we can make a solid start during the opening 15 to 20 minutes then I'm confident we can come away with the three points we need."
Right-back Mark Beard returns from suspension. But fellow defender David McSweeney faces four weeks on the sidelines with a combination of foot, ankle and knee injuries, after falling over his back garden wall.
Injury-plagued striker Graeme Jones (calf) is expected to be missing for a similar period after seeing a specialist. And defenders Phil Whelan (knee) and Stephen Broad (hernia) are also out of action.
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Published Friday, February 7, 2003
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