SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown felt his change of system was not to blame for Saturday’s 4-2 defeat against Sheffield United.

Brown opted to alter the shape of the midfield against the Blades with Simon Cox featuring at the top of a diamond behind both Nile Ranger and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

But, despite admitting the change of shape may have been wrong, Brown thought poor marking was ultimately the Shrimpers’ undoing.

“I can’t legislate for the goals we gave away and that was nothing to do with the system,” said the Blues boss.

“Their first two goals came from set pieces and we’ve let their players run in our six yard box and let them get on the end of the crosses.

“Those deliveries should have been met by our heads but they weren’t and that’s down to individuals.”

Brown opted to replace Jermaine McGlashan with Nile Ranger.

And the Blues boss made the changes in a bid to nullify the Blades’ main threats.

“”We changed the system slightly to incorporate what they were playing and maybe I looked at them too much. They had potency in their strike-force and a back three and I wanted to try and upset that.”