SOUTHEND United suffered a fourth defeat in five games at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday but can still finish the season in the play-off positions.

The Shrimpers never seemed to get going during a sub-standard showing in Shropshire.

And Junior Brown’s second half header meant it was the struggling Shrews who were full of smiles at the final whistle as their League One status was all but secured for another season.

But, with Millwall also slipping to a surprise setback at home to Oxford United, Blues are still in with a shout of a top six finish heading into their final league game of the season.

Phil Brown’s side remain seventh in the standings, a point behind the Lions who are also suffering a loss of form at the worst possible stage of the campaign.

However, what has gone on before will now count for very little as the season will ultimately be decided by the outcome of Sunday’s showdown.

Now, depending on your mindset, those connected with Blues will be either be heading into the encounter will their glass half full or half empty.

The more optimistic of fans will still be grateful to be in contention to challenge for a place in the Championship.

At the start of October and, with the Shrimpers having endured an horrific opening few fixtures, avoiding relegation would have been seen as a success.

The character Blues have shown to surge up the standings is to be commended and, with Millwall facing a tough-looking trip to Bristol Rovers on Sunday, there is everything to play for.

But those with their glass half empty will be pointing towards Southend’s recent run of form which has seen them take just three points from the last 15.

That loss of momentum does not bode well before the game against Bury this weekend and perhaps the play-offs will prove to be a bridge too far.

But, as any long-term follower of the club will know, the Shrimpers never seem to do anything the easy way and that certainly includes their latest push for the play-offs.

Just one more single point in the last month would have seen Blues’ destiny back in their own hands and enabled them to capitalise on Millwall’s own collapse.

However, as it is, Southend will need the Lions to again slip up at the weekend while also winning their own game against Bury if their season is to be extended.

With that in mind, an injury to goal-getting midfielder Anthony Wordsworth has not helped their cause and his creative qualities were certainly missed on Saturday.

The Shrimpers rarely threatened against the Shrews and goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler was rarely forced beyond making regulation saves.

That cannot afford to be repeated on Sunday and Blues will need to produce an improved performance - which includes more variation in attack - if they are to take advantage of their latest lifeline and secure their dream conclusion to their dramatic if some what stuttering season.