Clarke has played 145 times for Southend since joining in 2006

Southend United's Peter Clarke says he is pleased with the way his partnership with Dorian Dervite is developing.

The central defensive duo have played 13 games together since the 20-year-old Frenchman joined on loan from Tottenham in January.

In that time, the Shrimpers have kept seven clean sheets and won 10 times.

"We have formed a good understanding and managed to limit teams to goals from dead-ball situations," Clarke told BBC Essex.

"Fortunately Dorian's English is really good, definitely better than my French and maybe better than my English," he added.

"But it's not just us, it's the rest of the back-four and the whole team as a unit."

The Clarke-Dervite partnership has helped lift the Essex club to within three points of the League One play-offs.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version