Adam Barrett: Off-field events taking their toll on Southend United

Razam · Apr 6, 2010

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/theblues/7986274.Barrett__Off_field_events_taking_their_toll/

SOUTHEND United skipper Adam Barrett feels events off the field are beginning to hit Blues hard following their 3-0 defeat at Gillingham yesterday.
Steve Tilson’s side, who remain 22nd in the League One, have been paid consistently late this season.
And Barrett is sure that has played a part in the poor run of results.
“It has been extremely tough for every single person in that dressing room and I think we’re starting to look mentally fatigued because of it,” said the centre-back.
“It has been going on for a while now and I have a wife and two kids, so of course it’s a very worrying and stressful situation.
“It means you’re not just concentrating on your football, but we’ve fought hard this season and while we still have a chance of staying up we will continue to do so.”
Blues are still three points from safety with six games to go.
But their latest reverse at the Priestfield Stadium against their relegation rivals came as a huge setback.
“I’m absolutely devastated to have lost the game,” said Barrett.
“It was a huge match and now we need to react in the right way for the games we have left.”
Manager Tilson, who has seen his team triumph in just one of their last 16 outings, was also disappointed by the defeat.
And he felt Gillingham’s opening goal, which came just after the half-time interval, was the game’s decisive moment.
“The first goal was always going to be important,” said Tilson. “We needed to make a better decision to clear the ball and it was a poor goal to concede.
“After that the heads went down and while we are chasing the game, they have hit us on the counter attack for their second and third goal.
“There was not a lack of effort today, but things are hard for us right now.”
Blues went in to the game with out the injured Alan McCormack and his absence was the latest in a long line of setbacks for Tilson, who is also currently without the injured Damian Scannell and the suspended Franck Moussa.
“Macca was out with a sprained foot from Saturday and it is another major player missing,” said Tilson.
“The list is endless and we have players not playing on top form in the team, which wouldn’t be the case if we had a bigger squad.
“We do still have a chance, but, with other results, we are probably down to needing three wins and a draw from our last six games.
“The matches are running out now and it is going to be tough, but while it is possible, we have to believe we can do it.”