Cresswell craves promotion

Ryan Cresswell is focused on Saturday's trip to Exeter as Southend get back to league matters and their promotion objective.

The Shrimpers progressed into the area final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek with a penalty shoot-out victory at Oxford, coming after they drew 2-2 with Brentford last weekend in the third round of the FA Cup, with the two sides set to go again on Tuesday for the right to host Chelsea. But League Two is where the Essex club's main focus lies this season, and Cresswell is keen to get back on track at promotion rivals Exeter on Saturday after successive defeats over the festive period ended a 14-match unbeaten sequence. "It's a big game, we get back to it in the league," the centre-back said. "Our main objective this season is to get promotion, the league is the main thing and we need to get back to winning ways and push on up that table. "The league has always been the main priority and the lads know that. We know we're a good team, we can contend for the league. "We just want to get back to winning ways and try to get another run going, like we did before. We know we can do it because we've done it. When the cup competitions come, we'll think about them then." Exeter have won their last five consecutive away matches although their form at St James Park has been far from convincing, winning just one of their previous nine on home soil. Cresswell added: "You can look at your stats and look at goals scored, goals conceded - it all depends on the day of the game. "They're the home side, they'll obviously be the favourites, they've won their last five away. But their home record hasn't been the best, although that doesn't mean it's going to be an easy game for us. "Saturday is going to be a big match, they're going to be up for it as much as we are because it's two teams chasing promotion. We just need to make sure we do the job and get out of there with three points."