Accrington Stanley defender Callum Johnson admitted during yesterday’s pre-match press conference that this weekend’s game will be a tough one, despite Southend United currently sitting below the Reds in the table.
John Coleman’s side currently occupy 19th place, with Southend sitting two places below, and Johnson acknowledges that the Reds would be further up the table if it wasn’t for little errors during recent games.
“It’s small margins in Sky Bet League One, such as the penalty against Wycombe Wanderers and the lapse of concentration against Blackpool.
“We’re starting to defend a lot better, but when it (the clean sheet) comes it’ll be a confidence boost and then more of them will come.
“We go into every game as a team to get a clean sheet, and we believe that we can get one.”
The 22-year-old is in fact one of the senior members of the group, and the full-back explained how he enjoys being able to pass on little bits of advice to the more inexperienced lads.
“I feel like one of the senior members, so I’m trying to help the lads now who haven’t got as much experience, as I know how they felt.
“Even though I’m not old, if I can pass on one thing then I feel like I’m doing my bit.”
Johnson was linked with multiple moves away from Stanley during the summer, but he understands that it’s an inevitable aspect of the game and he’s got used to it now.
“The first time it happened it took me by surprise as it was something that had never happened.
“After a few rumours, I can deal with it now.”
Ahead of this weekend’s game, the defender admitted that in a similar way to Stanley, Southend’s position in the table doesn’t automatically mean that it’s going to be a comfortable game.
“They’re down near us but that doesn’t mean anything, we’ll have to be on the top of our game to get the win.
“We’ve seen them and we know they’re a good side, like every team in the league.”