LEADERS Burton aren’t the only side in League One with an eye on back-to-back promotions.
City came a cropper last week as the Brewers continued their confident march towards the Championship.
And they could be joined there by another team aiming to pass straight through the division.
While Burton’s progress has been well-documented, Southend’s season so far has been largely overlooked.
But having sneaked their way up via a Wembley penalty shoot-out in May, Phil Brown’s Shrimpers are well-placed for another play-off assault.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe ended a run of three straight wins that had moved them up to seventh.
While City were spectacularly ending their jinx at a Peterborough ground where they had never previously won, Southend’s lack of success at Glanford Park continued.
But central defender Adam Thompson believes they can put right that frustration against the Bantams.
“We normally bounce back well from a defeat so we will need to do the same at Bradford now,” he said.
“We are still up there in the mix and that’s coming after we got promoted last season so we are doing really well.
“We will stay positive and move on to Bradford for another big and difficult game. We will make sure we get something from it.”
It was only Southend’s fourth loss in 15 away games. They had lost just one of the previous seven on their travels.
On-loan Shrewsbury striker Tyrone Barnett is their biggest doubt after being forced out the action at the weekend. Southend will monitor him closely.
Boss Brown said: “Tyrone landed awkwardly following a challenge and his back went into spasm.”
If Barnett does not make it, Southend are likely to hand a start to former Leeds frontman Noel Hunt. Ryan Leonard is missing with a knee injury.
Tonight is the second of six outings in 22 days for the Essex side but full back Luke O’Neill said: “I want the games to be coming thick and fast, especially when we’re doing well.
“We want to keep it going and we’ve got a strong group here.”
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