Southend can count on Redknapp’s support, insists new boss Bond

Posted Sunday, April 07, 2019 by PA

Southend United manager Kevin Bond says Harry Redknapp will be one of the Shrimpers biggest supporters as he watched his former assistant start his new role with a 2-2 draw at Fleetwood’s Highbury base.

Bond took over from Chris Powell in midweek and saw his side throw away a lead twice.

Harry Bunn’s 21st minute effort and Luke Hyam’s thunderous strike got cancelled out by a Ched Evans double.

Evans netted in the 59th minute and from the penalty spot with five minutes to go after Paddy Madden was felled by Harry Lennon.

The ex-Portsmouth, QPR and Tottenham manager watched Bond start his new role with a point.

And Bond says he will be cheering the club on as he aims to steer the Shrimpers to League One safety as they remain level on points but just ahead of AFC Wimbledon, who occupy that last relegation spot.

Bond was Redknapp’s long-time assistant and coached his opposite number Barton when he was at QPR.

He said: “I don’t know (if Harry will be at every game).

“He is going to be one of Southend’s biggest supporters That is for sure!

“I know he loves it. He loves the game and he loves going to a game with there being something on it.
“Not just going to a game for the sake of going.

“He is really interested in Southend now and has a reason to come and I’m sure he will come to as many games as he can.”

And Bond says his players were disappointed to just pick up a point.

He said: “Overall a fair result. We would have taken a point before the game.

“But it is disappointing when you have been ahead twice. The lads feel that but you look at the positives.”

The draw leaves Fleetwood 10 points off sixth-placed Doncaster Rovers with six games to go.

And Barton was pleased with his side’s second half response as he hailed the impact of his half-time substitutes Ashley Hunter and Ashley Nadesan.

He said: “We knew we needed to win games at this stage of the season if we were going to keep that long-shot open.

“I said to the lads at half-time I’m more bothered about the performance.

“I want to see you go out there and leave everything out there. We made some substitutions and I felt Ash Hunter and Nadesan lifted the performance.

“Just a little bit of naivety. A great finish from Hyam but our response was superb.

“Southend came with a game plan and Bondy said he’d have snapped my hand off for a point before the game. Disappointing not to win but we have just got to be smarter and ruthless.”