SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is urging the Shrimpers to head into tonight’s game against Oxford United with a positive mentality.

Blues head into the match at Roots Hall on the back of a 4-0 defeat at Northampton Town.

But Brown is keen for Blues to remain upbeat.

“The last game and a half in our previous two games have been good so we need to focus on that and remain positive,” said Brown.

“A five-minute spell cost us in the second half at Northampton but we need to galvanise the group and go again.

“We’ve won our last two home games and we need to go and make it three.”

However, Brown is expecting Oxford to provide his team with another tough test.

“Oxford are a good side who are well drilled,” said the Blues boss.

“They’re doing well after coming up and it’s certainly not going to be an easy game.

“But we’ve had a bit of success against them in the last few years and hopefully that can continue and there can be a good atmosphere inside the ground.”

Brown is now mulling over whether or not to make changes to his starting line-up.

And the Blues boss insisted he was not concerned by the goalkeeping situation at the club, despite Mark Oxley’s mistake for Northampton’s first goal at the weekend.

“I have every confidence in both of the goalkeepers we have at the club,” said Brown.

“It’s important to try and get a settled defence in front of them.

“The goalkeepers are battling it out to start and I’m sure whoever plays tonight will do a good job for the team.”

But Brown feels the game’s first goal could prove key to the final result.

“The recipe for success this season is scoring first where we’re concerned,” he added.