WE head back to Bradford City this weekend in a repeat of my first ever game as manager of Southend United.

I still remember that game vividly and it’s scary to think it was actually two-and-a-half years ago.

We had Britt Assombalonga and Gavin Tomlin in attack and they both scored in the opening 10 minutes or so that day.

We also had Ben Reeves on the left wing so it certainly wasn’t a bad side but Bradford came back well to get a point and we were probably a little bit fortunate not to lose in the end.

Since then an awful lot has changed and both teams now find themselves in a higher division.

But a few things still remain the same, including the managers and Phil Parkinson is someone I know very well indeed.

I was first team coach at Hull City when he was manager there and his assistant Steve Parkin was my number two/number three when I got the job at Hull.

They still also have James Hanson in attack who is a real handful and they still get excellent attendances too.

They average nearly 19,000 at home so I’m sure there’s going to be a great atmosphere and it will be very similar to our recent game at Sheffield United.

JPT DEFEAT HARD TO TAKE

I’M still bitterly disappointed by our defeat to Millwall in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

We had worked our way into a great position to be able to get back to Wembley and it was so frustrating to not get the result we wanted.

The performance wasn’t actually too bad but the result was and I thought it showed that we need to be more clinical in front of goal because we didn’t have enough in the final third. I need better quality up there and strikers who can turn a game in key moments, just like Millwall’s did on the night.

I don’t like teams enjoying coming to Roots Hall and it wasn’t nice having 1,500 visiting fans celebrating their win.

We want to get back to making our ground a tough place to visit but first we must get back on track against Bradford.

QPR HAVE LANDED A TOP BOSS

CONGRATULATIONS must go to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on getting the job at Queens Park Rangers.

I’m sure he will continue to be successful at Loftus Road and continue the excellent record he had at Burton Albion.

Burton certainly seems to be a good stepping-stone for managers with Gary Rowett also going into the Championship from there to team up with Birmingham City.

But I’m certain Jimmy will do well with QPR and get them going again after the mis-management there over the last three or four years which has seen a lot of money wasted.

HOW BEST DO I USE HUNT?

NOEL Hunt is back in contention again now and I must weigh up when is best to bring him into the matchday squad.

Would it be best to start with him and maybe get 60 minutes from him or do I bring him on for the final half an hour?

It’s a situation that I’m currently mulling over because you certainly don’t want to be pushing him too hard too soon.

But if we drop Noel in at the deep end I’m sure he would be able to swim and it’s certainly a huge boost to have him available again.

It’s not just Hunty who is making a return though because David Worrall is now back and so too are Michael Timlin and Gary Deegan which is good news because I think we need that little bit of experience they bring with them.