Southend United manager Rob Newman is anxious for Blues to pick up three points against Lincoln City tomorrow ahead of a trio of away days.

Following tomorrow's Roots Hall game against the 15th-placed Red Imps, the Shrimpers, who are 16th, are away against Chesterfield in the FA Cup second round, followed by long league hauls north to Rochdale and Hull.

With both the Dale and the Tigers battling at the sharp end of the Division Three table, Newman knows the value of a morale-boosting win against the Lincolnshire visitors tomorrow to erase the memory of two defeats on the spin.

"We have to get a home win tomorrow because we face three games away in a row," said Newman.

"And we need to get three points on the board because our away form has not been that good recently.

"Hopefully we will get a win against Chesterfield in the Cup which will put us in a positive frame of mind for Rochdale and Hull, which will be tough games."

But Newman is under no illusions that the Blues will face a tough examination against a Lincoln side who have only lost to league leaders Plymouth Argyle on their travels this season.

Despite bringing a depleted squad from Sincil Bank tomorrow, Newman is well aware that Lincoln have also only tasted one defeat in their last eight league matches.

"Lincoln are a resilient team and we will have to be at our best because they are doing well at the moment," he added. "Hopefully we can create a few chances, convert them and get the points."

Blues' last Roots Hall win in the league was the 3-0 victory over Macclesfield, which was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to the Pilgrims and a 2-0 reverse against Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.

However, the Seasiders' cause will be boosted by the return to the squad of left-winger Scott Forbes - who suffered no side effects after Wednesday's 1-1 reserve game with Bristol City - and Carl Hutchings, who partnered Kevin Maher in the heart of midfield before picking up a calf knock.

Definitely out is West Ham loan wideman Steven Clark, who is still recovering from a knee injury.

Southend (from): Flahavan, Searle, Broad, Whelan, Cort, Johnson, Maher, Forbes, Hutchings, Dsane, Rawle, Bramble, McSweeney, Thurgood, Webb, Szmid, Kerrigan, Belgrave, Gay.

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Published Friday November 30, 2001