SOUTHEND United must wait another week to try and kick-start their season after familiar failings led to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Oxford United on Saturday.

Perhaps rather in hope than expectation, Blues fans flocked to Roots Hall hoping for a performance and result which finally lived up to the team’s pre-season billing of promotion contenders.

However, a combination of poor finishing and soft defending again resulted in the Shrimpers having to settle for a share of the spoils.

The draw meant Southend ended an important eight day period with just two points from a possible nine to keep them 14th in the League One standings.

And, while nothing may ever have been decided at this time of year, Blues desperately need to get themselves back on track if they are to be anywhere near securing a place in the play-offs.

At present, Phil Brown’s side find themselves 14th in the table, nine points behind sixth placed Charlton Athletic and fifth placed Blackburn Rovers, who also both have a game in hand on Blues.

With that in mind and, with their current form, talk of a promotion push for the Shrimpers seems wildly optimistic at this stage and improvements must quickly be made if their fortunes are to be transformed.

Converting chances is an obvious concern at this stage of the season and Blues – who have the joint worst scoring record among the top 15 teams – again wasted some superb opportunities at the weekend.

Josh Wright failed to fire home from inside the six yard box having previously been denied by the woodwork in the first half, while Nile Ranger and Michael Turner both saw efforts ruled out for offside during a frustrating finale.

Clearer goalscoring chances were spurned at MK Dons on Tuesday night but Saturday did at least see Simon Cox return to the scoresheet.

The striker – who remains Blues’ best bet in the final third – had been enduring a frustrating run in front of goal.

The forward had netted just once in nine games before Saturday’s strike and he will now be looking to replicate the prolific form he displayed during the second half of last season, which he eventually ended with 16 goals to his name.

But, elsewhere in the final third, Marc-Antoine Fortune – for all his eye-catching flicks and quick feet – does not provide much of a goalscoring threat and he has now scored just once in his last 21 appearances.

Theo Robinson has yet to score in the League this season and has failed to make the squad for Blues’ last two games while the ongoing Nile Ranger soap opera has yet to see the controversial striker produce the goods on the pitch this term.

Ranger returned to the squad at the weekend having previously been left out for poor time-keeping but he has not scored from open play this season and a new striker should definitely top the Shrimpers’ shopping list when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Blues will be further boosted in the new year by the return of left-back Ben Coker, who has been sorely missed, and the sooner Anthony Wordsworth can return the better.

It is certainly not a coincidence that the Shrimpers have failed to win the last eight League games Wordsworth has missed and his creative qualities and calm finishing could have proved key against Oxford.

However, Blues also have problems at the other end of the pitch and skipper Anton Ferdinand again struggled on Saturday.

Ferdinand was easily brushed aside by Wes Thomas for Oxford’s goal and his lack of mobility caused plenty of concern.

Opting to leave out his captain would certainly be a big decision from Brown but on current form it is one which needs to be made, especially with John White waiting in the wings.

Elsewhere in the back four, the instant impact made by Michael Turner has been hugely encouraging.

But the Shrimpers cannot afford to keep on stuttering if this season is to result in anything other than mid-table mediocrity.