Southend United goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall may well be imagining himself making the crucial saves to keep the Blues in League One.

The United shot-stopper admits he prepares for matches by visualising his own performance.

And the former Yeovil Town goalkeeper dreams of avoiding relegation to League Two this term.

"Everyone has their own way to get ready for a game," Mildenhall told southendunited.co.uk.

"For a goalkeeper it's quite different than outfield players. It's all about the training leading up to a game. We'll do shots from all different angles, heights and situations to keep focused.

"Leading up to the game, I personally visualise the game in my mind.

"I see how I want the game to go, what saves I could be making and different situations that could happen."

At the moment though Southend find themselves in a situation that they are desperate to escape.

Steve Tilson's side are yet to win in 2010 and dropped into the relegation zone on Saturday afternoon following a 3-0 defeat at Hartlepool United.

But despite their precarious position, 22nd in the table, Mildenhall is trying to remain upbeat.

He added: "You can't afford to think negative. Of course, there are times when we have to be a bit negative and talk about the things we are doing wrong, but that is in a positive way.

"We need to look at where we are going wrong then get out there on the training ground and work on it.

"The gaffer is always confident we can do well. That goes for the staff at the club; the physio's and coaches too."

Blues have struggled for goals since the departure of Lee Barnard in January and Steve, who has scored once before whilst at Notts County, gets frustrated at not being able to assist at the other end of the pitch.

"Inside every goalkeeper is a striker," he joked. "Strikers do get a lot of the glory and we goalkeepers are sometimes forgotten about.

"I just want to be down there scoring goals and helping my team out. It can get frustrating watching from the other end when you just want to go and put the ball in the net, but it also keeps my mind on the game."