IF ever there a week which summed up the crazy world of Southend United this was it.

Last weekend seemed a home banker for Blues as they hosted struggling AFC Wimbledon at Roots Hall, only to suffer a disappointing 1-0 defeat.

Six days later, the Shrimpers travelled to a Rochdale side sitting high up in the automatic promotion places, boasting the best home record in the whole of League Two.

Yet Blues easily brushed them aside at Spotland as they produced an incredibly impressive and efficient display to secure arguably their best result of the season so far.

All over the pitch there were huge positives and the side again looked more comfortable in a 4-3-3 formation.

The central midfield trio of Ryan Leonard, Will Atkinson and Michael Timlin were all superb in a crucial area of the pitch and enabled the Shrimpers to dictate proceedings.

Further forward, the recalled Barry Corr and Jacob Murphy both worked their way on to the score-sheet with Murphy, in particular, really catching the eye.

The on loan Norwich City youngster terrorised the hosts with his pace and also showed great quality and composure when presented with opportunities in front of goal.

On the other flank, Kevan Hurst was able to show off his creative skills in a more attacking position and he did superbly well to create Timlin’s strike right at the start of the second half.

At the other end of the field, Blues were able to keep their 18th clean sheet of the season.

And they also showed their strength in depth by being able to have the likes of Jamar Loza, Lee Barnard, Luke Prosser and Freddy Eastwood on the bench, while Conor Clifford and Jack Payne did not even make the squad.

That bodes well for the remainder of the season but first the Shrimpers must find a way past Accrington this afternoon.

Blues’ struggles against teams towards the wrong end of the table have been well documented this term but it remains incredibly confusing too.

After all, how can a side travel to all of the teams in the top 11 and avoid defeat yet fail to beat any of the bottom four on their travels.

Southend have also stuttered at Roots Hall against struggling sides and it seems to be when teams sit back with men behind the ball that Blues find it hard.

Up against teams with more attacking intentions, the Shrimpers are able to utilise the space in front of them.

That could help Southend in their forthcoming clashes against Fleetwood and Burton and hopefully also the play-offs.

But, first the Shrimpers face a crucial clash with Accrington and it is one they need to win to ease the pressure during what could otherwise be a nervy end to the season.

In fact, should the results go as expected this afternoon then Blues could virtually guarantee a top seven finish today.

Blues have won four of their last five games, while 17th placed Accrington have triumphed just once in their last six outings.

Meanwhile, eighth placed Oxford United, who sit just outside the play-offs, have lost four of their last five games and travel to table topping Scunthorpe United today who are unbeaten in 27 games.

Should the results in those two games go as expected then Blues would find themselves six points ahead of Oxford with two games to go with a far superior goal difference as well.

However, the last week has shown just how impossible it is to predict Southend United’s this season.

And you sense nothing will ever be that straight forward for the Shrimpers!