SOUTHEND United's assistant manager Graham Coughlan was unsure whether or not the Shrimpers should be happy with their 2-2 draw at Sheffield United on Saturday.

Blues let slip a two goal lead before half-time at Bramall Lane and were forced to withstand sustained spells of pressure from the Blades after the break.

And that left Coughlan with mixed feelings at the final whistle.

"When you're two goals up in any game you do expect to see it through and win it," said the Irishman.

"We were different class for 35 minutes but the next goal was always going to be massive after that and unfortunately Sheffield United got it.

"They picked up from there and got the second goal before half-time as well.

"After that it was backs to the walls for us in the second half but we kept them out to get the draw.

"Before the game I would happily have taken a point so it's not a bad result but we got ourselves into a great position to have taken all three."

Ryan Leonard and Jack Payne both netted for the Shrimpers inside the opening 31 minutes before the Blades fought back.

The share of the spoils moved Blues up to 11th in the League One standings.

But Coughlan believes they must find more of a ruthless streak if they are to improve on that position.

"We make one or two errors and we get punished but the opposition make one or two errors and they don't," said the 40-year-old.

"We need to find that ruthless streak at both ends of the pitch but we're still finding our feet in this league.

"We've worked hard to get here but now we want to move on again and be playing in grounds like this week in week out.

"That's the next challenge but this was a thoroughly entertaining game for both sets of fans."

However, the draw extended Southend's winless streak in the league to four matches.

And Coughlan was keen to express the importance of soon getting back to winning ways.

"The next victory will be big," said the former Sheffield Wednesday defender.

"It's four league games without a win so we don't want that to set in and it's another big game against Blackpool this weekend now."