I don't for one minute think that Southend boss Alan Little's job is under threat following a dismal run of results.

But hopefully, even if things don't improve dramatically, none of our local MPs will try and interfere the way the four far from just men did at Sheffield Wednesday.

It was a disgrace that the MPs should abuse their power by trying to have Danny Wilson removed by Wednesday who are struggling at the foot of the Premiership.

Surely they should be more concerned with trying to run the country in the House of Commons than petitioning for a manager to get the sack.

What would their reaction be if Wilson started a campaign to get them axed after Labour's abject failure to solve the current health crisis?

Look deeper at defence

If anybody needed telling that Southend United's current problems do not merely stem from who plays in goal then they should have been at Roots Hall for Saturday's amazing home clash with Rochdale.

Some Blues fans have been in dispute as to whether their favourite Mel Capleton or manager Alan Little's recent choice Mark Prudhoe should be between the sticks.

But the first-half on Saturday underlined that the club's disastrous defensive troubles go far deeper than that.

Rochdale were allowed to cut through an almost non existent midfield and get straight in amongst an overworked back-line almost at will.

And once the Lancashire outfit broke the deadlock then too many players went

missing and the goals simply flew in - none of which could be put down to mistakes by Capleton. It was simply Rochdale had a greater appetite and won every ball.

Little was at pains to explain afterwards that the recent sad home form was responsible with some players showing a total lack of confidence and almost accepting defeat as inevitable once the first goal went in.

He had some harsh words to say during the interval as the players made for the dressing room under an understandable chorus of boos from disgruntled supporters.

But once Little shuffled things around and Scott Houghton scored a cracking

goal you could almost see the Blues men grow in stature as some long overdue passion and spirit flowed through their veins.

Tackles started to be won in the vital middle of the park and it was Rochdale's turn to defend desperately as Southend pulled off what was at the end of the day an heroic 3-3 draw.

And fans who were baying for Little's blood suddenly acclaimed him as a master tactician - such are the vagaries of being a soccer manager.

Hopefully Southend's sad underachievers will have learned from this game and show the same spirit and fire they did in the second period but from the word go.

I must say I felt a little sorry for recalled striker Neville Roach who was pulled off at half-time - I doubt if even Alan Shearer or Michael Owen could have thrived on the scant service produced by that totally ineffective midfield in the opening period.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.