LOOKING back at last weekend's defeat at Crewe Alexandra, our first half display fell well below the standards that we have set ourselves.

The players know that I will not accept that level of performance and hopefully it will be a lesson learned. We had a few words at half-time and our performance improved in the second half. In the end, with a bit more thought and better decision-making, we could have taken something from the game.

It is up to us to let our supporters know that it was just a blip and bounce back with a winning result on Saturday. We have a tough test ahead of us; Southend United are a well-organised side and in Steve Tilson they have a bright, up-and-coming manager who likes his team to get the ball down and play.

They have recent experience of The Championship and also made the play-offs at the end of last season. I fully expect them to be there or thereabouts again this time around.

We will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat in the right way; no-one likes to lose two games in a row and we will be doing all that we can to get a winning result on Saturday.

JIMMY MULLEN