SOUTHEND United come crashing back down to earth with a resounding and rather depressing thud at Northampton Town on Saturday.

Just seven days previously, Blues had battled to a brilliant 3-1 win against Millwall.

But hopes of that impressive victory turning around the Shrimpers’ stuttering start to the season proved to be short-lived as Phil Brown’s side sunk to their second successive 4-0 defeat on the road.

Southend initially seemed well set against the Cobblers and more than matched their hosts during an even – if rather uneventful – first 45 minutes.

However, a disastrous start to the second half saw them suffer a fifth league defeat of the season.

Boss Brown pointed the finger at referee Ross Joyce at the final whistle for a couple of contentious decisions.

But the Shrimpers played an even bigger part in their own downfall.

Quite how Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley failed to gather the tamest of efforts from Jak McCourt in the build up to the first goal will forever remain a mystery.

And, while Jason Demetriou may have been unfortunate to be dismissed under the new guidelines when giving away a penalty for Northampton’s second goal, the whole situation could have been avoided had the full-back been in a better defensive position in the first place.

Those two incidents both came within the first five minutes of the second half to kill the game off and continue a rather worrying run of results.

The statistics have been well documented on these pages already this season but Blues have now triumphed just five times in their last 26 league games, taking 20 points from a possible 78 in the process.

The Shrimpers now also have the worst defensive record in the division having conceded 18 goals in nine outings.

Only Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United have been breached more in the whole of the Football League and Blues must improve at the back if they are to work their way out of danger.

But, with that in mind, the goalkeeping situation remains a serious concern.

Oxley and Ted Smith have both been given opportunities between the sticks this term without really stamping their authority on the position.

Daniel Bentley, as expected, is being sorely missed this season but the reaction to Oxley’s error was perhaps the most worrying aspect to Saturday’s setback.

For, once going behind, Blues were easily brushed aside and, quite remarkably, have now not come back to win a game once going behind since beating Barnsley in October 2015.

Since then, the Shrimpers have claimed just three points in 42 games from losing positions and that raises big question marks about the team’s confidence and character.

Scoring first now seems essential for Blues but scoring at all still proves problematic.

Somehow or other, Southend now need to turn things around and sticking to a certain style of play and system for a sustained period of play could maybe make a slight improvement.

But with the transfer window now shut and with only players without clubs available to sign, Blues are unlikely to be able to add some much needed quality to their squad.

Rediscovering the spirit and work-rate from the win against Millwall remains the Shrimpers’ best hope ahead of a huge week for their season and manager.

Blues host Oxford and Peterborough United at home in the space of five days and need good results in both to stop even more pressure being heaped onto the manager.

After those games nearly a quarter of the campaign will also have been played.

But, right now, it is tough to see anything other than a season of struggle for the Shrimpers who seem to have a real fight on their hands to maintain their League One status.