Southend United manager Alan Little has urged his team to remain patient as they attempt to end their depressing goal drought against Torquay United.

Blues have failed to hit the back of the net during any of their previous four matches and a total of 374 minutes - an abysmal record the Shrimpers chief hopes to end against the Third Division play-off chasing Gulls tomorrow (Saturday) at Roots Hall.

But Little believes his team will find it a lot easier to rediscover their goalscoring touch if they take to the pitch in a relaxed frame of mind and keep calm.

"I'd really like to see my players take off the shackles and have a real go at Torquay tomorrow," said the Seasiders' boss, whose side currently occupy a miserable 18th position in the league standings.

"Our season is over now and the pressure is off, we can't go up and we can't go down, and I'd like to see the players express the freedom this gives them.

"We need a goal badly after our recent run and these players have got the ability to go out and smash three or four past Torquay, if they play with the flair and commitment they are capable of."

However, Little said his players' level of performance was important in front of the Roots Hall fans tomorrow afternoon.

"Following a couple of very poor displays we turned things round and picked up a hard earned point at the leaders Rotherham United last weekend, and we need to play with the same passion against Torquay," he added.

"Our biggest problem this season has been a lack of good back to back performances and results, and we need to give the fans something to cheer about."

Although, Little said tenth placed Torquay, who are only four points adrift of the play-off zone with five matches remaining, will be no pushovers.

The Seasiders have already done battle with the Devon outfit twice this season at the Gulls' Plainmoor home in the league and FA Cup, with both sides enjoying 1-0 victories.

Little's only injury worry ahead of Torquay's visit is midfielder Nigel Pepper who has a bad toe. However, the Aberdeen loan-star has been to see a chiropodist and should get the go-ahead to play.

Southend (from): Capleton, Beard, N Jones, Morley, Roget, Coleman, Pepper, Tinkler, Connelly, Carruthers, S Jones, Maher, Newman, Cross, Fitzpatrick, Houghton, Prudhoe.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.