Taundry wary of crisis-hit Southend

Walsall midfielder Richard Taundry has warned crisis club Southend are as dangerous as ever and their plight will not stop the players looking to embarrass the Saddlers.

The Shrimpers have suffered financial problems this season and have narrowly avoided going into administration. They have escaped three winding up orders and the players have been paid late three times this season.

On the field, coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Carlisle at Roots Hall on Saturday merely extended their winless run to 12 games.

But Taundry believes tonight's visitors are made of stern stuff and has warned the Saddlers to be alert.

He said: "They've still got quality and we know we've got to go there expecting a battle. We know we have to go there and produce a lot. It's a difficult place to go and we need to come back with a result.

"Speaking for myself, financial troubles wouldn't really affect me when I'm playing. When I'm playing that's the only thing I think about so it won't affect them too much.

"No one wants to drop down a league, so they're going to be fighting for their lives and we're going to have to work very hard to get anything."

Southend's on-field troubles were not helped by the sale of Lee Barnard to Southampton in January, as they tried to raise vital funds.

The striker has scored three times against the Saddlers this season – once for the Shrimpers and twice for the Saints – and Taundry believes it's a big loss at Roots Hall.

He said: "Lee was a massive player for them and we know how good he is after playing against Southampton the other week. He's a big miss for them but nevertheless they've still got good players and it's up to us to spoil a few things for them."

Taundry could again be used as an auxiliary right-back, after switching there when Dwayne Mattis returned for the 1-0 win over Colchester on Saturday.

The switch came just as the midfielder felt confident of striking up an understanding with Josh O'Keefe, after the former Blackburn youngster was granted an extended run in the first-team.

He said: "I liked playing with Josh, we had a good understanding, if he was going to go forward I would sit and we knew how each other were going to play.

"As soon as I see him go, I'd let him go and then I'd sit, he's going about his game well."

Taundry was revelling in the extra responsibility of being a senior midfield general for a change.

He said: "I mentioned to the manager couple of weeks ago I felt a lot more settled and more aware of what is going on around me. The manager and his assistant Martin O'Connor have put that into my game this season.

"Last year I would run around and I'd get put here and there, but now I've found that consistency and hopefully I can keep it going.

"It's a lot easier playing in the one position, you can get used to it and go about the game correctly."

But the former trainee still has his eye on more goals, after scoring twice in his last nine games following 78 outings without a strike.

Taundry said: "After my first I was aiming for five and that's what I'm going to try and do, I'm still going to shoot when I get the chance and hopefully they will fly in."

Goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin also reckons the squad are buoyant following their 10 man 1-0 victory over Colchester on Saturday.

He said: "It brings confidence and, especially with ten men, it gels the team together. Then you go in to the game on Tuesday with that in mind.

"Everyone is uplifted, we've won at home against a top six team, Colchester are a good physical side and we battled them. Some of the tackles going in were brilliant by our lads and it brings the crowd together. The crowd were fantastic today and we came out on top and deservedly so.

"Three points is three points, you go out there and you win a game then that's your starting point. "It's then your standards that need to keep coming. Everybody did very well on Saturday, not only myself.

"Then that's the standard you set each other for the next game. Winning Saturday meant everything, after every game you win you're then thinking about the next game."

Walsall captain Mark Hughes starts the first of his three match ban following his red card on Saturday, but Rhys Weston is back in contention following his hamstring injury.

Southend skipper Adam Barrett is suspended after his sending off against Carlisle, while Francis Laurent and Jean-Francois Christophe are also banned.