A MIXED Southend United side were beaten 4-1 at Charlton Athletic this afternoon.

John White, Zavon Hines and Luke O’Neill all started for the Shrimpers.

But Blues’ assistant manager Graham Coughlan felt the Addicks’ greater togetherness enabled them to secure the victory.

“We had a mixture of a team, we hadn’t worked much together whereas Charlton do every day and I think that probably showed in the end,” said Coughlan.

“The first half was very even and we should probably have been 2-1 up at half-time because Dan Walker and Dan Matsuzaka both had great chances to score.

“Charlton were then given a free header right in front of goal and scored from the rebound which was really disappointing.

“After that we made a few substitutions and, as normally happens, the game lost its patten and a bit of discipline really.

“But it was good for us to have the game it the facilities there are excellent.”

Young striker Norman Wabo bagged the Shrimpers’ goal in the defeat.

Southend United: Bexon, Williams, White, Matsuzaka, Kyprianou, Bedford, O’Neill, King, Hines, Walker, Bridge