DISAPPOINTED Southend United manager Chris Powell stressed he would learn lessons from the Shrimpers’ disappointing 3-0 defeat against Walsall on Saturday.

The Saddlers dangerman Erhun Oztumer bagged a second half hat-trick at Roots Hall to condemn Powell to his first setback as Blues boss.

But the former England international - who took control of the club in late January - feels he now knows far more about his team.

“I’m hugely disappointed with our performance but I’ve learnt a lot about my team,” said Powell.

“The supporters may have seen similar performances this year but I hadn’t seen it and now I have.

“In a strange way I can learn from it and seeing that helps me move forward with my plans and how I see this group.”

The setback came after the Shrimpers’ ground staff and supporters had worked tirelessly to ensure the game could be played.

Fans arrived early on Saturday morning to sweep snow off the pitch.

And Powell was frustrated not to be able to reward them for their efforts.

“I’m really disappointed for all the fans who helped get the game on,” said the 48-year-old.

“That was not befitting of my team and not what I want to see week in, week out.

“I don’t want to see that again in fact.

“It was not a Chris Powell Southend United team or a Chris Powell team full stop.”

However, Powell - whose side had endured a disrupted week of training due to the poor weather - was also keen not to make excuses.

“Whether this was because we hadn’t played for two weeks, the weather, the game being on or off I don’t know but it’s done now and there’s nothing we can do it about it,” said Powell.

“It’s football and this is what can happen.

“I’m certainly not here to point fingers at individuals and the good news is that I know what this group can do.

“They’ve done it before and they will do it again.”

But Powell felt the defeat - which saw the Shrimpers slip to 14th in the League One standings - could have been avoided if Shayon Harrison had converted a clear cut chance at the start of the second half.

The on loan Tottenham Hotspur youngster volleyed over from close range.

And Powell thought the miss proved crucial in deciding the outcome of the clash.

“It was a scrappy, ugly game just like the pitch but we had the golden chance to go 1-0 up,” said Powell “That was bit of a game changer and things didn’t go our way.

“We let ourselves down and it did look like we hadn’t played for a couple of weeks.

“But sometimes you have to have a jolt like this just to get yourselves going again.”

The Shrimpers will now be bidding to bounce back against Doncaster Rovers at Roots Hall on Saturday.