SOUTHEND United's assistant manager Paul Brush is hoping the Shrimpers can avoid setting an unwanted club record this weekend.

For should his side lose against Millwall at Roots Hall it would be their seventh straight league defeat.

And that would be the worst run in Blues' entire history.

"It's obviously a record we could do without," said Brush.

"We want points on the board and that's certainly the aim tomorrow."

Southend have previously lost six games in a row three times in the past.

Those wretched runs came in 1932, 1955 and 1987.

But Brush admits improvements must be made if the current poor sequence of scorelines is to end.

"We need to start creating more chances, while also cutting out the silly mistakes," said the former Southend defender.

"We've conceded two goals on the counter-attack and two goals direct from free-kicks and that's something we have really been working on cutting out.

"We need to be more on the front foot in games but we aren't too far off at the moment."

Blues, who are 23rd in the table, started their season with a 2-1 defeat at home to Leyton Orient before suffering a 4-1 reverse at Leeds United seven days later.

Subsequently, their last league win remains the 3-2 triumph at Preston North End last April, while the Shrimpers' last clean sheet came against Burnley in March.

"We want to improve our home form and reduce the number of goals we're conceding," he said.

"You can't expect to win 3-2 or 4-3 every week and there would be nothing better than a couple of 1-0 victories for us right now."

That could prove tricky against this weekend though as the Lions have started strongly, picking up four points from their first two games.

The South Londoners also have Gary Alexander, Ben May and Neil Harris in attack.

And that will certainly test a Southend rearguard which has conceded seven goals in their three games so far.

"The reports we've had tell us that they're a strong team with solid forwards," said Brush.

"Their winger Ryan Smith picked up an injury last weekend but if he plays he adds skill and pace but we've had a good week of training and are well prepared."

Blues' hopes could also soon be boosted by new signings ahead of the closure of transfer next Friday.

"We very much hope that people will be coming in," confirmed Brush.

"But at the same time some may be leaving."