SOUTHEND United striker Lee Barnard will be under added pressure to perform at Billericay Town tonight.

The 24-year-old, who attended Mayflower School during his youth, still lives in the town near to the club’s New Lodge home.

And that means several friends and members of his family will be closely monitoring his display in tonight’s friendly (7.30pm kick-off).

“There will be a lot more people than normal watching me and I’m sure they will be quick in letting me know how I play so I need to make sure I put in a good performance,” said Barnard.

“I’ve played there before with Spurs but it’s something I always look forward to because I’m a Billericay boy.

“It’s always a real test too because they’re a good side.”

Barnard will joined in the team tonight by trialist left-back Jamie Clapham and the forward admitted his team were keen to bounce back from the dismal 2-0 defeat at Braintree Town on Saturday.

“No-one wants to lose and we were disappointed with the way we played and we want to do much better this evening,” he said.

“We know games at this stage are about fitness but you still want to win and we need to improve.”

Barnard, the Shrimpers’ top scorer in their warm-up fixtures so far after netting against both Great Wakering Rovers and Thurrock, is desperate to hit the goal trail again in his hometown.

“I want to go into the season on form and score early on in the league as well,” said Barnard.

“We’re trying out a new formation at the moment with a diamond-shaped midfield which we’re still getting used to.

“But if chances come my way then I’m confident of putting them away.”

Fellow forward Alex Revell is struggling to recover from a groin injury tonight, when manager Steve Tilson is demanding an improved performance.

“I want to see more commitment from the players than I did at Braintree but this is another good chance for the players to get 90 minutes under their belts,” he said.

Billericay’s pre-season build-up has been jolted by news that skipper and key midfield man Jamie Dormer has suffered a recurrence of the ankle tendon problem that sidelined him for the closing weeks of last term.

He’s out tonight, but striker Joe Flack will continue his rehabilitation after being out since late last year through injury.

Said Town’s joint boss Grant Gordon: "It’s good to hear that Southend will be sending a strong line-up to New Lodge “The fact that they are coming here just after having their noses put out of joint in losing at Braintree might not be good news for us as their players will want to get that result out of their systems.

“But we'll be looking to give what I’m sure will be a strong opposition line--up a good game and it it looks certain to attract a decent-sized crowd which is important for a club such as ours when it comes to revenue.”

Ticket prices have been set at £7 adults, £5 concessions and £3 under-18s. Under-12s will be admitted for £1 if accompanied by an adult.

>FORMER Southend United defender Lewis Hunt, who was released by Blues at the end of last season, has joined League Two outfit Wycombe Wanderers and will face Steve Tilson’s side in a pre-season friendly at Adams Park a week on Saturday.

Meanwhile, ex-skipper Kevin Maher has joined Oldham Athletic.