WE IDENTIFIED November as a huge month for our league campaign and we’re pleased to have started it off with two important wins.

The Mansfield victory stopped the rot after a disappointing October and Saturday’s win against Hartlepool saw us bounce back from the frustrating FA Cup defeat to Chester.

I was very positive after the game about our performance and the statistics certainly back that up as well.

We had 22 shots at goal, 12 of which were on target and we had 32 crosses going in to the box.

Kevan Hurst was responsible for half of them which was great to see and I felt as though there was quite a big division between the two teams.

Tranmere are up next at the weekend and we want to go there and get another good result.

LOOKING AT LOAN SIGNINGS

THINGS are still on the burner when it comes to loan signings.

I believe the transfer window shuts next Thursday so we’re certainly having a look at what might be possible to get done.

I’m in talks with Gary Deegan about a new contract but there have been no developments on that since the start of the week.

I will also be talking to Yeovil manager Gary Johnson about Jakub Sokolik’s future.

I spoke with Jakub yesterday and he’s very happy being at Southend.

I understand Yeovil have just extended the loan of a defender they have at the club so I will be speaking to Gary to try and find out where that leaves Jakub in his plans.

LOOKING FORWARD TO FA YOUTH CUP CLASH

I’M looking forward to watching the FA Youth Cup game against Barnet tonight.

In the last round I wanted to watch the game from a few different vantage points and at one point I ended up on the gantry.

I also sat behind the goal in the South Stand and being up there was almost like being on the pitch itself, it was brilliant!

Barnet have been doing well so it has the makings of a good game but I know Ricky Duncan will have our team well prepared.

There are some good young players we have too and it was another feather in the cap of the youth department to have Dan Matsuzaka on the bench for the first team against Hartlepool at the weekend.

I'M BACKING JIMMY BULLARD TO BE KING OF THE JUNGLE

I’M A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here may just have only started but I’m convinced Jimmy Bullard is going to win it.

I managed Jimmy when I was at Hull and he was fantastic to work with.

Above all else he’s just very, very funny and being his manager was similar to a headmaster having to deal with the cheeky pupil in class.

Jimmy’s exactly like you expect him to be and is very chirpy and cheeky.

If there’s a way to bend the rules, Jimmy will find it and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already found a way to smuggle chocolate bars in to the jungle!

I’m sure he will win and, if I’m allowed to bet on the outcome, then I will definitely be putting money on it too.

WELCOME TO LEAGUE TWO, JIMMY

IT’S WELCOME to League Two for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and it’s great to see him getting the Burton Albion job.

I was at a dinner with him just a couple of weeks ago and he’s a really infectious character.

We play them just before Christmas so we don’t have too long to wait and he started off with a great win at Wycombe Wanderers.

The Burton chairman Ben Robinson is also well known for backing his managers and I think it’s a good first job for Jimmy to have taken.

I wish him all the best, just not when he’s coming up against Southend!