Southend United skipper Kevin Maher has urged the Roots Hall boo boys to get off Shrimpers' striker Billy Paynter's back.

The under fire forward, 22, was jeered off by sections of the Blues support when substituted against Cardiff City on Sunday.

But Maher, who was also a target for abuse from the terraces during his early years with the club, is urging the fans to get behind the target-man and the rest of the side.

"No-one likes to hear that kind of stuff," said the Seasiders captain.

"We're in this together and that includes the fans. We win together and we lose together because we're all a team but we definitely need them to stay with us and stay behind us.

"It's going to be tough at times this season but playing at this level it was always going to be like that.

"There will be ups and downs but the important thing is to keep going and hopefully people will see a reaction to the Cardiff defeat at Derby this weekend."