Shrimp Feast Lined Up

Last week we were really down in the dumps, this week we're rocking and rolling. No matter what, a Crewe Alexandra win always makes the world seem a better place for at least 3-7 days.

There's no more talk of Steve Holland quitting or getting the chop. Our midfield is no longer ultra sh*t, just a little unsteady. As for our defence, well name me a better defensive pairing than Baudet and O'Donnell.

Of course, tomorrow's game at home to Southend could revert everything back to normality and we can all have a good whinge again, but with 5 straight home wins (two of which were nice 2-0 wins over Championship opposition I may add) I think we have reason to worry Southend.

They're a bit like Colchester were last week. They're from the South, you'd expect them to roll us over, but they haven't made the best start to the season and have a poor away record.

We should be a bit more wary of their attacking force though. Lee Barnard and Dougie Freedman are, probably, the best strikers we've faced in the league this season. Dougie Freedman is, well, Dougie Freedman. Bit old, bit past it (in the recent times I've seen him) but probably still enough in him to do us on Saturday.

We know all about Barnard after his brief spell here last year followed by two (rather soft) goals against us in a Southend shirt in April. Whether the official site's attempt at mind games with Barnard, as one unofficial Southend web site put it, will put his focus off - it's a tough one to call.

I for one think this official site vs Barnard angle is definitely where the battle will be won this weekend. Who'll crack first? You'll get reaction first on Vital Crewe.

From crewealex.net:

'Southend had a great season, reaching the Play-Off's but they haven't started as well as they would have liked, so we know it will be a tough game. They will be thinking like us, because they picked up a win against Hereford last weekend and will wanting to go on a run themselves.

'It will be a difficult game but we have been in really good form at home, so hopefully that will continue with another good performance on Saturday.'

Julien Baudet has a slight groin injury earlier in the week but looks to have over come that.

Stuart Tomlinson has recovered from his long lay off but is very unlikely to be involved.

Otherwise, it should be same as for Steve Holland.

Southend released him at the end of last season. Can he prove them wrong by shutting them out?

Former Alex transfer target Steve Mildenhall is ruled out. The former Yeovil keeper took a bad knock to his ankle last week and will be out for up to a month. Ian Joyce is set to replace him.

The official website's mention of Barnard's injury whilst at the Alex could well unease the former Spurs man but Danny O'Donnell will need to stay alert just incase.

Crewe: Collis, Jones, Baudet, O'Donnell, Woodards, Moore, Bailey, O'Connor, Grant, Zola, Pope.

Southend: Joyce,Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Harding, Betsy, Christophe, Sawyer, Walker, Freedman, Barnard

Crewe 1-0 Southend

Liverpool away on Tuesday.

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