THERE were plenty of positives and negatives for Southend United to take from Saturday’s play-off defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

The biggest disappointments were, of course, the result and the manner of the Blues’ below par performance.

However, the biggest plus point is that Paul Sturrock’s side still remain very much in the tie going in to the decisive second leg at Roots Hall on Wednesday night.

That would not have been the case if Cameron Belford had not superbly kept out a second half shot from A-Jay Leitch Smith or if Luke Prosser had not brilliantly blocked a last-gasp goalbound shot from Nick Powell.

But, as things stand, Southend are still in with a shout of making the final at Wembley and keeping alive their promotion dream.

For that to happen though, lessons have to be learnt from the first leg and, in particular, just how Blues began to get on top in the closing stages at Gresty Road.

Chances only started to come the visitors’ way when they opted to stick more crosses and bodies into the opposition penalty area and that must happen from the start of the second leg at Roots Hall if the current score-line is to be overturned.

Recalling Freddy Eastwood alongside Neil Harris in attack would help put the Crewe defence under more pressure.

And Southend also have a clear physical edge over their younger opponents which needs to be exploited.

At the same time, Blues cannot afford to leave too many spaces as Crewe have again showed they have passing skills to punish teams when in possession.

That makes it a tough and intriguing tactical dilemma for Southend boss Paul Sturrock.

But, however the game unfolds and whatever happens, it promises to be an unbelievable evening of tense and unpredictable drama as Roots Hall hosts its biggest game in years.