After a turbulent summer off the pitch left manager Paul Sturrock with a threadbare first-team squad, the Scot has been able to add new faces following the lifting of a transfer embargo and has been rewarded with some much improved displays in recent weeks.
“It’s been great to get the three good results and we want to keep it going now,” said young star Ryan Hall, quoted in Southend's The Echo.
“The boys are really buzzing after the week we’ve just had and are really happy so we’re confident about our chances ahead of the game at Northampton."
There was late heartache for the Cobblers on their last visit to Roots Hall, on-loan West Ham midfielder Junior Stanislas netting the winner in a League One clash on Boxing Day 2008.