IT’S been a very good few days for everyone at Southend United.

It was a pleasing night at Crawley Town in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday and I think we caught them by surprise with the diamond shaped midfield we went with.

It was great to see how they worked and there were plenty of positives all over the pitch.

Scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet was fantastic and we’re pleased to have got through to the next round of the JPT.

The chairman has told me a cup run is essential this season and, after missing out against Brighton in the Capital One Cup back in August, it was pleasing to get the right result against Crawley.

On the same day, we had an under 21 game against Luton Town which was also very positive as both Adam Thompson and Stephen McLaughlin played the full 90 minutes.

Tommo had been out since April with the dislocated shoulder he suffered against Mansfield Town while Macca had been out for a little while after recovering from a nasty illness.

Having them both back is a huge plus point and while Macca is closer to a first team return than Tommo it’s great to have them both back.

It also gives us even more competition for places which has to be welcomed.

GREAT SPIRIT IN THE CAMP

THE spirit in the camp was shown this week when Adam Thompson finished playing in the under 21 game and jumped straight on the coach to Crawley.

But it wasn’t just him as Kevan Hurst also came along to watch along with Noel Hunt, Paul Smith, Luke O’Neill and Stephen McLaughlin.

Glen Rea, who flew out on international duty the day after the game, also wanted to be there and I think that just shows the brilliant camaraderie there is in this group.

PLEASED FOR STRIKERS 

IT was great for Myles Weston to get back among the goals at Crawley on Tuesday.

Myles had gone a little while without scoring but he took his goal well and I’m sure it will do him the world of good.

Joe Pigott also seems to like Tuesday night games away from home at the moment and it was pleasing for him to score two more.

We just need to take this back to Roots Hall now for what is going to be another very tough test against Port Vale at the weekend.

NOEL HUNT STILL FEELING PAIN

NOEL Hunt is still feeling pain in his ankle and that’s why he didn’t feature against Crawley.

He’s not 100 per cent fit and we’re still trying to get to the bottom of what’s happening.

The scans we’ve had have all come back negative so there’s no serious damage there and hopefully Noel will be back playing sooner rather than later.

Adam Barrett is the same and he’s making good progress with the hamstring injury he picked up at Millwall.

I was in the gym with him yesterday and it does appear as though he’s ahead of schedule.

We originally thought he was going to be out for a couple of months but the way Adam is I’m sure he will back sooner than we expect.

We also had a slight scare with Anthony Wordsworth after he was forced off injured during the Crawley game.

But he wasn’t in for treatment yesterday so that’s definitely a good sign.

SURPRISED BY BRENDAN RODGERS DEPARTURE FROM LIVERPOOL

THEY say nothing should ever surprise you in football but I was certainly surprised by Brendan Rodgers’ departure from Liverpool.

It was the timing of the decision which caught me by surprise more than anything else because Brendan got things right in the game at Everton and picking up a point there isn’t a bad result.

I just think it must have come down to Liverpool making strides with who they wanted to bring in as their next manager.

Jose Mourinho has also been in the headlines after Chelsea’s run of bad results.

I’m a big fan of Jose but we’re now seeing he’s human and has the same troubles as us meagre managers and coaches.

I’m sure he will get things right there but whether or not he can do it in time to still challenge for the title this season I don’t know.

That’s a question I can’t answer.