SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown admitted it was a ‘massive relief’ to see the Shrimpers beat Millwall 3-1 at Roots Hall on Saturday.

Blues went into the clash against the Lions with just one win in their opening seven league games.

And, with the pressure starting to mount on his shoulders, Brown was delighted by his side’s vastly improved performance.

“It’s a massive relief to have won the game,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“It’s our first home league win of the season and it’s been too long coming.

“But this was a performance full of energy and it was the best tempo I’ve seen at Roots Hall in any game since I’ve been here.

“From minute one it was blood and thunder and it was our strength of character which won it for us.

“The players responded superbly to the system we threw at them and I couldn’t name a man of the match because everyone was outstanding.”

David Mooney, Stephen McLaughlin and Luke O’Neill were all on target for Blues as they moved out of the relegation zone and up to 20th in the table.

And Brown also felt the Shrimpers benefitted from Millwall not having Joe Martin sent out just before the break when the left-back somehow avoided being shown a second yellow card after hauling down Mooney.

“It beggars belief that he wasn’t sent off and I just couldn’t understand it but I don’t think a red card would have done us any favours,” said Brown.

“Teams can get galvanised by going down to 10 men and they would’ve sat in and hit us on the counter attack.

“So him staying on worked in our favour strangely enough because it brought a siege mentality to the crowd.

“They were after the referee which made a change to it just being me!”

Blues’ victory ended a run of four league games without a win. And it also came just seven days after strong words were spoken in the dressing room after a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United – something Brown feels could have contributed to the win against the Lions.

“We had a real heart to heart in the dressing room after the Scunthorpe game,” said Brown.

“One person said more than most and that was Adam Barrett. “What he came out with were some home truths and I think the players have responded to it.

“He was talking about standards and people letting them slip. “But we’ve worked hard this week and need to go and build on this now.”