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TWO months ago, David Eyres said that keeping up Athletic this season would rival anything John Sheridan has ever achieved in his career.

When one modern legend addresses the challenge of another, those words will carry weight.

Having found themselves a third manager in a single season, Athletic were in quite a pickle.

Eight points adrift of safety by the time Sheridan took on the third game in his attempted rescue act, Athletic appeared to be no-hopers.

Then came what some fans have called the ‘Shezurrection’.

The new-found ability to grind out results in this unforgiving division has, in a short space of time, turned Athletic’s fortunes around.

This was a fourth win in the last six fixtures and the third by a 1-0 scoreline.

SCREAMING

Sheridan spent most of the 90 minutes screaming at his players to do better as they threw themselves into a steady stream of defensive blocks and came out with a crafty but hardly perfectly-designed three points, thanks to Curtis Main’s neat finish from a rejuvenated Jonathan Forte pass in the 66th minute.

With George Edmundson’s presence in the line-up a shot across the bows of under-performing senior professionals on the bench, a clean sheet at Roots Hall was hard-won. There were mistakes aplenty – David Worrall could and should have made more of them – but even more resilience.

Once easy-beats, Athletic now lie down for nobody.

Is the transformation into one of the meanest, most streetwise sides in the division as big an achievement for Sheridan than playing in two World Cups, or scoring the winning goal in the League Cup final?

The man himself would probably argue not, while Eyres may disagree with him. But there was no hiding his delight at the final whistle here, as he strode towards Athletic’s travelling support to thanks them for their efforts.

Sheridan has far loftier goals for next season, of which thoughts can now start to turn.

Athletic, who started in a 3-5-2 formation, began sharply here and struck the woodwork only 80 seconds in. Lee Croft slipped Jonathan Forte in down the left side of the area and with little else on in terms of support, he tried a low effort from an acute angle which beat highly-rated goalkeeper Daniel Bentley but rebounded straight back off a post.

Tareiq Holmes-Dennis was next to go close in the eighth minute, hitting a low drive from a similar position which took a slight deflection to take it a foot wide.

Southend almost opened the scoring when first, Stephen McLaughlin forced Joel Coleman to back-pedal and tip over smartly and then from the resulting corner, Tyrone Barnett might have done better than tamely head a swinging delivery onto the roof of the net.

Holmes-Dennis failed to keep a presentable half-volley opportunity down as the ball flew over the top and at the other end, Edmundson was sharp to block a Deegan attempt before it got near to Coleman's goal as Southend turned the screw.

Forte was again involved in a busy half for the willing striker, forcing a save from Bentley with a snap-shot before trying to tee up Croft, who failed to connect with a tough volleying chance.

Southend might have netted on 27 minutes. Former Athletic loan winger Worrall profited from a flick-on of a long ball from deep in home territory but with no offside flag forthcoming, took it early and out the ball wastefully over Coleman’s crossbar.

And the same player wasted the best chance of the opening 45 minutes three minutes after that. Brian Wilson slipped trying to get to a through ball and with Worrall clean through, it took Coleman racing off his line to block his attempt from 12 yards out.

It was again proof of how far Coleman continues to come in a short space of time, but a minute later he was thankful for Edmundson racing back to block superbly from Barnett after Liam Kelly made an uncharactistic hash of his attempted clearance.

Athletic, edgy but potent on the break, continued to be under the cosh in the early part of the second half.

Edmundson had to cover well again to block from Barnett and Dummigan dived full-length to block with his body from Jack Payne. At that stage, Athletic were unable to get up the pitch and it appeared to be a matter of time before the Shimpers’ pressure told.

Forte wasted a rare Athletic counter-attack when electing to go it alone despite having Main and Dummigan flying down his right, to only one defender who was able to keep pace. His low shot from a tough angle was easily saved and the anguish was clear from the reactions on the visitors’ bench.

Sheridan was virtually tearing his hair out.

But the man to blame for that incident put it right only five minutes later, setting Main up for a goal firmly against the run of play – not that Athletic cared a jot, of course. Timothee Dieng deserves plenty of credit for his sharp play in the build-up, too.

From that stage on, Athletic relaxed and passed the ball far more efficiently.

Substitute Jake Cassidy – who played a part in Southend’s promotion while on loan last year – failed with two chances to double the lead.

First, he stepped around goalkeeper Daniel Bentley before trying to cut back infield and playing a slack pass.

Then, when sent away one-on-one, he hesitated fatally and allowed Ryan Leonard to effect a covering tackle.

Athletic were rarely troubled seriously at the other end as the clock wore down.

The fat lady in the Athletic scarf is clearing her throat for a rendition of ‘we are staying up’.