PAUL Clark is backing Blues to beat the drop.

Steve Tilson’s side , who travel to Hartlepool United tomorrow, have slumped to just above the relegation zone following a winless streak of nine matches.

But Clark, a former Southend player and a manager, is certain the current team have enough about them to stay up.

“I do think Southend will avoid relegation,” said Clark who made 359 appearances for the Shrimpers during two seperate spells.

“I have seen at least five or six sides who are worse than Blues so I think they will be OK but it certainly won’t be easy for them.

“They have worked their way into a tough position and are bound to suffer more suspensions and injuries between now and the end of the season which will hit their small squad hard but I think they will stay up.”

Southend have shown signs of improvement in their last two games as they fought hard against high-flying Norwich City and Charlton Athletic before being beaten 2-1 in injury time.

Clark covered both of those matches for BBC Essex and the Press Association but feels the encouraging displays will count for little when the Shrimpers tackle their fellow strugglers in the next few weeks.

“Southend did play well but when you’re in big games against the better sides they come at you a bit more and you get more space to play,” said Clark, 51.

“But it won’t be like that against the lower sides who will may be look to hit Southend on the counter-attack.

“They could well sit back with men behind the ball and that’s sometimes when Blues have had problems.

“The good thing is they still have to play the sides in and around them and it very much means it’s down to them what happens.”

Southend are also struggling off the pitch and have failed to pay their players on time several times this season.

Clark suffered that himself while with the Shrimpers during the early 1980s.

And he knows the problems will affect players in different ways.

“Some will have lots of money and won’t be worried because they know they will get the money in the end but for others it’s different,” said Clark.

“They will be living hand to mouth and it’s dealing with on a day to day basis which is hard “You’re forever talking about it and asking what’s happening and it does get to you.

“Playing matches is actually the easy bit because once you’re on the pitch that’s all you think about.

“But I am surprised that this has been allowed to drag on for this long though.

“When it happened to us, there was talk of players going on strike and the PFA got involved.

“They were tough times but we got through them and hopefully the club will again.”

Hartlepool are also involved in the fight against relegation and are just three points above the Shrimpers who remain 20th in the League One standings.

Southend will be missing Jean-Francois Christophe who starts a four match suspension and Anthony Grant is still not ready for a first team return due to his ankle injury.

But Matt Paterson is fine to continue in attack and Francis Laurent is pushing for a recall after Sanchez Watt's return to Arsenal.

Southend United (from): Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, M'Voto, Barrett, Laurent, McCormack, Moussa, Scannell, Vernon, Paterson, Spencer, Sankofa, Herd, Jack, Malone and Crawford.