PHIL Brown slammed Southend United as ‘embarrassing’ following their convincing 7-3 defeat at Billericay Town in the third round of the Essex Senior Cup.

Hat-tricks from Billy Bricknell and Jake Robinson saw the Shrimpers suffer a heavy setback.

And Brown pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance.

“That was embarrassing out there tonight,” said Brown.

“It was embarrassing for me, the club and the chairman and the attitude and mentality wasn’t right.

“The attitude of the senior players wasn’t right and they won’t play for me or the club without the right attitude.

“Some of them think they have a divine right to be in my team and tonight has shown they don’t.

“That includes some of the youngsters as well who I have knocking my door.

“They need to grow up fast because they are nowhere near it on this evidence.

“But well done to Billericay. They showed a professional attitude and deserved the win.”

Blues also wasted a number of clear cut chances with Theo Robinson missing a trio of glorious opportunities.

However, Brown was equally as critical of the Shrimpers’ defending.

“It was embarrassing at both ends of the pitch,” said Brown.”

“You don’t concede seven goals because you miss easy chances you concede seven goals by not having the right mentality.

“Dan Matsuzaka and Nico Cotton are among those telling me they should play for the first team but tonight it didn’t look like that at all.”

To add to Blues’ woes both Nile Ranger and Jermaine McGlashan went off injured.

But Brown is not sure how serious the injuries are at this stage.

“Nile came off as a precaution,” said Brown.

“I don’t know too much about Glash just yet but we’ll know more in the next couple of days.”