Southend United midfielder Will Atkinson believes the Easter period will be key for the League Two club and hopes his team can capitalise on the two games in quick succession.

Brown is keen to add to his squad
Southend boss Phil Brown will be hoping for a good Easter

The Shrimpers face 18th-placed Mansfield Town at Roots Hall on Good Friday before travelling to relegation-threatened Hartlepool United on Easter Monday.

Mansfield loanee Atkinson is hoping a repeat of Southend's 2-1 win at the One Call Stadium in November will be the first stage in picking up a maximum six points in the next four days.

"With the two games over a short period of time, it gives you a good chance to put six points on the board quickly," the 26-year-old told the club's official website.
"We know we have to play well to win games of football. We got a good result at their place and we'll aim to replicate that result at Roots Hall."
Phil Brown's side are currently fifth in the table with a five-point lead cushion in the play-off places and can keep the pressure on fourth-placed Bury, who are four points above them.
But Atkinson - who guided Bradford to victory in the 2013 League Two play-off final - explained that catching the top three Burton, Shrewsbury and Wycombe is still a realistic aim.
"We still believe in getting automatic promotion. It's a bigger gap than we would like, of course. We go out with the intention to win every game we play. There's still plenty of points to play for between now and the end of the season."
Atkinson's main personal target, though, is to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season in the remaining eight matches.
The former Hull City player added: "I haven't been in the best of form but I have plenty to offer still. I haven't scored yet this season, but I've been saving them up for the last eight games of the season."
Southend - who lost to Burton Albion in the play-off semi-finals last term - still have to face fellow play-off chasers Luton, Newport and Bury before finishing the campaign away at Morecambe on May 2.