SOUTHEND United had been hoping to celebrate Roots Hall’s 60th birthday in style with a successful afternoon against Swindon Town on Saturday.

But what ultimately unfolded was perhaps more fitting.

For, over the years, it seems the Shrimpers dictating matches without finding a finishing touch before being hit by a sucker punch has become one of the most common outcomes.

And that was exactly what happened at the weekend.

Blues were on top for most of the match, especially at the start of the second half, but were unable to make their pressure count.

Jack Payne and Noel Hunt wasted the best two chances when the game was still goalless before Swindon’s Fabien Robert showed them how it should be done with a clinical finish to secure an undeserved victory for the Robins.

The Frenchman’s third goal in three games extended the Shrimpers’ winless start to the season to five games.

And it also made it Blues’ worst opening to a campaign in 11 years.

However, back then, Southend were still able to turn things around in time to win promotion from League Two, largely due to the arrival of a certain Freddy Eastwood.

But for the Shrimpers to transform their season this time around they must find a way to end their goalscoring woes.

Blues have hit the back of the net just once in their opening five games and have now gone four games without scoring for the first time in nine years.

The chances were certainly there to be taken at the weekend and at Doncaster Rovers last Wednesday.

However, converting these kind of opportunities – particularly at Roots Hall – has proved problematic for quite some time.

Last season, despite the Shrimpers’ promotion, they bagged just 25 goals in their 23 home league games, which was the fifth worst in the division.

Beyond that, Blues have netted 53 times in 49 home league games since Phil Brown came to the club.

But there is now even more pressure than ever to convert the chances coming their way as they find themselves facing strikers of superior quality.

At League Two level, opposing forwards would often struggle themselves to fire home the crosses coming their way.

However, the early signs suggest that is not the case in League One and, at the weekend, Swindon netted with the only real clear cut chance they created.

Blues now need to discover a similar kind of scoring ratio and how best to start scoring more goals is the biggest dilemma currently facing boss Brown as his side look to get to grips with playing at a higher level.

In previous outings, it could have been argued that the Shrimpers needed to adopt a more attacking mindset and formation.

But on Saturday the chances were there to win the game with substitutes Myles Weston and Joe Pigott both being denied by Swindon shot-stopper Lawrence Vigouroux in the closing stages.

If those kind of opportunities can continue to be created then a prolific striker would make a huge difference to the Shrimpers’ season but it remains to be seen if those already in the squad can step up to the plate.

Hunt missed a great chance to score at the weekend but is still not at full fitness while fellow summer signing David Mooney has had very little created for him in the matches he has played.

Pigott has the knack of being in the right place at the right time but has yet to score since coming back to the club and Brown could therefore have to make another move in the transfer market to add superior quality to the strike-force.

But finding a proven goalscorer could prove tricky, especially within the restraints of a limited budget.

However, somehow or other the Shrimpers’ problems in front of goal must be sorted one way or another or this could well prove to be a season of struggle back in League One.