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<i>" He (Dougie Freedman) has been around and has played at a good level, I'm hoping, I don't want to say that he will certainly score goals because I don't want to tempt fate. His goalscoring record is decent though and he is an experienced and bright player so it is a good signing for us. He knows Dean (Austin) well, it is a good signing for us and hopefully he will start in good fashion on Saturday and bang a couple in,.
" I thought that we played some good stuff in the first-half against Leyton Orient but we conceded straight after half-time again. Again we have scored two goals and ended up losing, I said it after the game on Tuesday night, you can't concede as many goals as we are and expect to win games. So from that point of view I am really disappointed.
" The criticism of Steve Mildenhall is ridiculous, he has had no chance with the nine goals. I have watched them on the DVD and no chance. Probably the same people who were criticising Flavs (Darryl Flahavan) for not coming for crosses when he was having a bad time. So I am not too worried about that.
" I'm not worried, they can criticise all they want, if they think that is going to help the team get a result then let them keep doing it. At the end of the day though we have got to stay strong. We have got to go to Carlisle, which is a tough game, the best home record in the league last year. They have started well this year but we have got to go there and stand up and be counted. "
" We are four games into the season so as much as we haven't had a fantastic start there is no reason to panic. We have just got to dig in for a couple of months until hopefully things turn around and then we can push on. As a team we defend - not only the back four - from the forwards back to the keeper. It is the same as when we score goals because not only the attackers play their part in that. Everyone has to be looking at themselves to ensure they are playing their part.
" They are a good side and it is a long way to travel so that probably doesn't help the away side. They are a good side though, 4-4-2 they are playing this year. The front two are decent, I watched them against QPR last week and they are a good side. It will be a tough game for us but one that we are looking forward to.
" There is not a lot going for us at the moment if I am honest. I said to the lads that we have got to dig in for a couple of months and grind results out. Hopefully we will get a couple in, a few players in, Macca (Alan McCormack) will be back and it will look a little bit rosier. At the moment though it is tough and we just need a little bit more, we need them to be stood up and be counted. We've had a chat and hopefully on Saturday that shows.
" Without a doubt we are still looking for new players. We are still looking to get a couple in but it is the quality that you want to get in and it might take a little bit of time. Hopefully the fans will be a bit patient and they have got to keep getting behind the boys. It is no good some of the comments with Steve Mildenhall when he has got no chance whatsoever of any of the goals. Like I say, they are probably the same ones that wanted Flavs out at stages through last year. "</i>
In team news for the Shrimpers left-back Dan Harding could miss the game as he is struggling with tonsilitis, along with midfielder Lee Sawyer who has played through a groin injury in Southend's last two matches. Definitely sidelined though are Belgian midfielder Franck Moussa who sees out the last game of a three-match suspension, while another midfielder, in Alan McCormack, is out as he recovers from knee surgery.
Transfer-wise for the visitors this week they have signed 34-year old striker Dougie Freedman on a free transfer from Crystal Palace, along with Portsmouth winger Jean-Francois Christophe on loan for a month. Leaving Roots Hall though are forward Matt Harrold to Wycombe for an undisclosed five figure fee, while midfielder Peggy Lokando, 18, has gone to League Two leaders Dagenham and Redbridge on a one-month loan spell.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Andy Haines from Sunderland, and he will be assisted down the lines by Richard Clark from Northumberland and Dave McCallum from the Tyne and Wear area. Meanwhile the fourth official is another man from the North-East in Ross Joyce from Middlesbrough.