Sunday 10 May 2015 22:12, UK
Southend manager Phil Brown says it is all to play for after a 1-1 draw against Stevenage in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.
Dean Parrett gave Stevenage the lead with a fantastic strike on Sunday evening, but Barry Corr levelled for the visitors on the hour mark.
The two sides will do battle again at Roots Hall on Thursday with the winner facing either Wycombe or Plymouth Argyle at Wembley.
"It's all to play for and we are looking forward to it," Brown told Sky Sports. "The game will open up, guaranteed. It was cagey, a bit like (Floyd) Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao with defence, attack, defence, attack, but there is a strategy and gameplan. It’s two managers going at it and may the best man win.
"It was pure commitment from both teams and you will get that again on Thursday. There was a little bit of quality at times and we just edged it in terms of chances and possession, but it’s 1-1, we go back to Roots Hall and hopefully do the job."
Stevenage finished 12 points behind Southend in League Two but manager Graham Westley expects his side to reach the final.
"Both sides had chances and a draw was a fair result,” he said. “It was a terrific goal for us to score, but a sloppy one to concede.
"So many of my team were playing non-league football a year ago and didn’t they do themselves credit with the way they played? It was a big occasion and they rose to it, they have a second chance on Thursday and I expect them to go on."
