Southend United goalkeeper Mel Capleton called for unification from Blues' supporters before Saturday's Third Division Roots Hall clash with Rochdale.

Capleton failed to start any of Southend's previous four league matches, following Shrimpers boss Alan Little's decision to drop the fans' favourite in favour of veteran shot-stopper Mark Prudhoe.

However, Prudhoe has suffered a torrid time in recent weeks both on and off the pitch, following a couple of goalkeeping blunders and unwarranted abuse from the terraces.

But Capleton pleaded with the Seasiders' supporters to give Little's men their full backing - no matter who wore the number one jersey against Rochdale.

"All I want to do is play in every game and do my best for Southend United," said Capleton, who made his comeback as a bizarre half-time substitute for Prudhoe during last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Barnet.

"But we're in the middle of an awful run at home at the moment and the players - including me and Mark - need all the support they can get from the fans to turn things round.

"It doesn't matter who plays in goal against Rochdale as both Mark and I just want each other to do well for Southend, no matter who gets the nod, what's important is that we get a good result."

Before Saturday Southend's last Roots Hall success was more than two months ago - a 2-1 triumph over Brighton on November 2 last year - and since then Blues had failed to register a single victory from six outings on home soil.

However, Capleton believed the 15th-placed Seasiders are more than capable of finally ending this miserable sequence, which has included five defeats and one draw, against Rochdale.

"We need to put our recent results at Roots Hall behind us and start to push ourselves back up the league table," said the 27-year-old on Friday.

"At the start of the season we did really well at home, losing just one match in three months in front of our own fans, and we need to find that form again."

Southend (from): Capleton/ Prudhoe, Jones, Beard, Booty, Morley, Newman, Connelly, Tinkler, Roach, Carruthers, Houghton, Maher, Roget, Clarke, Hails.

Blues midfielder Simon Livett has left Roots Hall by mutual consent.

Mel Capleton - calling on Southend fans to pull together and get behind the team ahead of their clash with Rochdale

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