DONCASTER Rovers' mission to join Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Barnsley in the Championship is off to the seaside tomorrow.
And Rovers know it will be more than a bracing experience at Southend United; they are a different entity now than the one Sean O'Driscoll's lads saw off at Christmas.
When Rovers beat their Essex visitors 3-1 on December 29, the southeners were s
piralling downwards in a monumental slump.
In 12 games between December 15 and February 12, the Shrimpers managed three paltry wins and were beaten six times.
Rovers certainly met them at the right time because the story changed signficantly after that stretch. Having bottomed out as a 12th-placed League One team, they bounced back.
Just one defeat in 15 matches saw Southend romp into the last Play-off position, with the same points tally as Leeds United.
End-of-season statistics suggest Steve Tilson's men are more likely to score in the early part of the game, but are vulnerable nearer the final whistle.That will interest O'Driscoll, whose side have scored more league and cup goals in the final phase of games.
Rovers need to shore up around half-time incidentally; that's when they have been found wanting defensively over the season.
While Southend have hit a purple patch of late, Rovers fans will not need reminding their form slipped in the final straight. They managed just three victories in the last 10 games, losing four times, including the disappointing 2-1 reverse at Cheltenham last Saturday.
It was a match which chairman John Ryan admitted to being "devastated" saying: "We had enough chances to win six games.
"In the second half we looked like Real Madrid against Halifax Town."
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