Magpies expect tough challenge from Shrimpers
IAN Burchnall has warned his Notts County players that he expects Southend United to be a tough nut to crack – despite their lowly league position.
The Magpies return to National League action at Meadow Lane today (3pm) after two weeks without a match.
They currently sit seventh in the table, only four points behind leaders Chesterfield, albeit having played a game more.
Southend, meanwhile, are down in 19th as they come to terms with dropping out of the Football League at the end of last season.
However, Kevin Maher’s side have taken four points from their past two outings, following up a 2-1 win over Altrincham 2-1 with a 1-1 home draw against Maidenhead United in midweek.
“Obviously, they have changed some personnel in there and it’s never easy when you come down a division,” said Burchnall.
“It’s a big club that has come down and it isn’t always easy to bounce straight back up - you’re on that downward path and it can be difficult to break it.
“But, in the last couple of games, they’ve beaten Altrincham and then they’ve drawn (on Tuesday night), so they are starting to pick a few points up.
“I’m sure they will come here and be difficult to beat and break down, and try to be compact in an away game.
“I would imagine that they are not going to want to open up the game very much.”
Burchnall added: “I think you’ll find it in a few divisions, that the team that comes down takes a while to get going, because it isn’t easy.
“Often teams when they come up a division, in the same kind of respect, they often have a lift at the start of the season, because they’ve got that upwards momentum. “So it’s never easy but, like I say, they’ve changed some personnel. One or two players have come in – Zak Brunt has come in on loan (from Sheffield United). I think that’s a good signing, he’s a talented player. “So they’ve definitely got some threats and I’m sure they will come here and be difficult to break down.” Notts found themselves with no game last weekend due to scheduled opponents Chesterfield’s involvement in the FA Cup. Burchnall feels the break could benefit his players in the long run. “(It has been) really useful actually,” he said. “We had a lot of games, with the Cup replays, we were going
Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday.
“Having that week off just gave the lads a chance to recover a little bit, mentally rest, and then come back in fresher this week.
“I think it has been a good break for everybody but we certainly have been back on it in training and we’re ready to go.
“I’ve been used to having international breaks before, where you have a break from the league, and it’s great when you get those, because you get to work on certain stuff in training and mentally you can allow yourself to recover from the intensity of game, game, game.
“But in this division, there aren’t many breaks, so when you get afforded one or two, you should take them and allow everyone to recover, so I think it has been beneficial.”
Even so, Burchnall plans to rotate his squad where possible between the upcoming FA Trophy third round tie with Altrincham next Saturday, with the rearranged Chesterfield league fixture on Tuesday, December 21.
“(The players) have come in and trained really well and I think they all appreciated the break,” said the Magpies boss.
“I’m expecting us to feel fresh in all the games that we are playing in.
“I know we’ve got the Trophy game on the Saturday night late and then a Tuesday game, which is tight between the two.
“But we’ll be able to rotate a few players across the Trophy game and the Chesterfield game.
“So I expect us to be fresh across the Christmas period.”