SOUTHEND United skipper Nathan Ralph has hailed the impact made by Kevin Maher ahead of the Blues boss' 150th game in charge.

Maher will reach the landmark when the Shrimpers head to Rochdale this weekend.

And Ralph believes Southend have made huge strides forward since appointing Maher three years ago.

“You look at before he came here to how we’ve been in the last couple of years, even with all the stuff that’s been going on and it says it all really,” said Ralph.

“It’s like night and day comparing it to before.

“We’re really pushing on and I know we’re in this period now but we’ll keep getting better so I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes us.”

The Shrimpers narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season despite a 10 point deduction for financial irregularities.

But Ralph feels he has also become better under Maher’s guidance.

“He made me captain and that’s something I take a lot of pride in,” said the 31-year-old.

“The things we do every day in training and what we work on have added so much to my knowledge of the game as well.

“You see how much they put in and the hours they’re working in the office looking at other teams and formations.

“It is all stuff we can definitely learn from.”

Despite the improvements, Blues head to Spotland this weekend sitting 17th in the National League standings.

However, Maher’s side triumphed 1-0 at Eastleigh in the FA Cup last weekend.

And Ralph is certain the Shrimpers can build on the hard-fought victory.

“I think it was an important win,” said Ralph.

“Wins like that 1-0 away from home, late in the game, sometimes they’re the results that can really kick start a season.

“That’s what we’re hoping it does.”

Blues will be looking for another good result when they head to fifth placed Rochdale.

And Ralph is keen to keep things solid at the back.

“We’re a team who really pride ourselves on clean sheets,” said Ralph.

“We really want to get back to that.

“We’ve had periods in seasons the last couple of years where results haven’t gone our way for a while and we’ve then gone on a unbeaten run.

“It’s nothing we’ve been worried about internally but we knew it needed to be better and we’re getting to that now.”

But Ralph knew it could take time due to the number of changes.

“We’ve got new bodies in the building and it takes time for them to bed in,” said the defender.

“In a way it’s a transition and with time I’m sure the clean sheets will come.

“Momentum is key and so is getting good morale and camaraderie in the group.

“Nothing really does that like wins so if you can get a few in a row it can only be a good thing for the group but we’ll take each one as it comes, starting with Saturday.”