THE last two times Southend United suffered a defeat in their opening game of the season they went on to win promotion.

For that to happen this time around however, changes must be made to the Shrimpers side, predominantly in attack, where they are currently lacking the quality to be challenging towards the top of the League One table.

Manager Steve Tilson has a whole host of attacking options with Matt Harrold, Gary Hooper, Charlie MacDonald, Lee Bradbury, Billy Paynter and Richie Foran all vying for selection.

But five of those were at the club last season and they managed just eight league goals between them. Hitting the back of the net on a regular basis therefore remains a real concern, and although both Harrold and Hooper could not be faulted for effort at the weekend Blues are crying out for another striker.

Elsewhere the team looks reasonably solid and should be capable of finishing around mid-table, despite the indifferent result against Orient.

The dubious dismissal of Alan McCormack certainly changed the outcome of a previously even encounter, but for the Seasiders to have any aspirations of aiming for an immediate return to the Championship they must splash some of the Freddy Eastwood cash they received during the summer.

The sharp-shooter left Roots Hall for Wolverhampton Wander-ers in a deal which earned the Shrimpers an initial £1.5 million.

But since then Southend have spent just £131,000 on transfers, bringing in Garry Richards, Zoltan Liptak and Nicky Bailey, and that now needs to be increased with the addition of a striker.

Blues were believed to have tabled an offer of around £400,000 for Roy O'Donovan who eventually opted for a move to Premier League Sunderland.

And they may now need to bid more of the same before the end of transfer deadline to bring in the proven goal-getter they so desperately require to improve their chances of securing more success.