United forward Michael Bridges had a huge part to play in the winner that sealed the three points for his side against Southend, as his flick took the Shrimpers midfield out of the game and released Simon Hackney down the left wing.

We had a word with him about the game shortly after full time.

He said: "It's great to get out there and be part of this run that we're having. I was pleased to have something to do with the build up to the goal, but it was a great ball in by Evan. It had plenty of pace and power and it was just a case of helping it round the corner, because you then know that Simon Hackney, our whippet, can get on to the end of anything. Thankfully he read the pass and what it was that I was trying to do, and he was able to put it across for Cleveland Taylor to eventually put away. I tell you what, I thought he was going to miss it at one stage, but he kept his head and all credit to him for that."

"It was superb for us to see Cleves get his goal at long last," he told us. "Down at QPR he was our best player, almost inspirational, and he works extremely hard. His game tends to be a bit up and down, but he's been one of our most consistent players this season. He's battled on, and he has taken his chance with the opening that came with the Dobie suspension. That's what it is all about for all of us, providing a bit of competition."

"Every single one of us wants to be part of the team," he admitted. "Our aim is to be in the gaffer's first eleven line up, so you have to push all the way. Danny Graham and Danny Carlton need to know that I want to be starting, as does Gaz Madine, and that should keep them on their toes as well. When you get the shirt, you want to hold on to it, and that's exactly how it should be. Having said that, there is no bad feeling in the dressing room about it. The players are together, and we all understand that it is the player who is performing that is going to get the shirt. It's very healthy competition at the moment, and that is proven when you have a Reserve team made up of mostly senior pro's who all want to be playing on a Saturday."

"I feel great at the moment," he said. "It's taken a while for me to get going again, but I've missed a lot of football. I have been coming on here and there for the first team, but  it has been good to get 90 minutes with the Reserves. I now feel really fresh and I think I'm coming back to where I want to be. When you look at the table, and you see that we're sitting in second place, then you can't want anything but to be a part of it. The boys have done fantastically well, and we just want to keep it rolling now."