The great escape is on for Southend United, according to winger Mark Gower.

Just a few weeks ago the Shrimpers seemed destined for the drop and were rooted to the foot of the Championship table, nine points from safety.

But, since the turn of the year, Steve Tilson's side have roared back to form.

And they could yet pull off what at one stage seemed a mission impossible by avoiding an immediate return to League One.

"We're only four points from safety and things are looking much better than they were only a few weeks ago," said Gower.

"We've got a run of results going like we needed to and now we're playing with confidence we're looking to keep it going."

The Seasiders - who went 17 league games without winning -have now emerged victorious in three of their last four Championship matches and have lost just one of their last six.

That has increased belief in the Roots Hall camp and Gower added it was a massive boost to move off the bottom of the table with a magnificent 3-1 triumph at Birmingham City on Tuesday.

"Psychologically it was a big thing for us to go up a place," said the 28-year-old, who scored his side's third goal at St Andrew's.

"We had been bottom for nearly three months and it does get you down to be honest.

"But to go to Birmingham -who are second - and win after going a goal down quite early on is fantastic.

"The boys deserve a lot of credit because it was a fantastic performance and a fantastic result as well.

"The way the other results went, with Leeds and Barnsley both winning, it was important we did the same and it keeps us in contention now.

"We're four points from safety and we've already seen how quickly a gap like that can close so we need to keep this going and this is still a long way to go."

Next up for Blues is a trip to Stoke City and Gower is hoping for another positive performance from his team. "We've had a very hard run of games," he said.

"We had Derby at home, then Birmingham away and now we go to Stoke.

"Before that spell of games I think we would have taken four points from those three and that's why it was important we didn't lose at Birmingham the other night.

"Stoke away is another hard one. They're just outside the play- offs right now so we know what to expect from them.

"But we've beaten a lot of the top teams already this season and there is no reason why we shouldn't go and do it again on Saturday."