SOUTHEND United manager Kevin Bond was stunned by the Shrimpers shocking showing against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Blues rarely threatened during their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Roots Hall.

And Bond, who had led Southend to a spirited 2-2 draw at Fleetwood Town in his first game in charge, could not believe the difference in the performance.

““It’s surprised me after a good display last week at Fleetwood,” said Bond.

“The lads applied themselves really well and fought for everything there and showed all the right attributes but we didn’t show anywhere near enough of them here.

“Wycombe fought harder and worked more. They won all the first balls and all the second balls.

“They showed a greater desire for the situation they’re in than we did

“It’s disappointing and I hadn’t seen that in training or a performance while I’ve been here and that has to stop.

“It’s not about a system or who you play even really but we just can’t have that anymore,”

The setback extended the Shrimpers’ winless streak to 14 matches as they also slumped to their 13th home defeat of the campaign.

But Bond refused to blame the added pressure which comes from playing in front of your own fans.

“Whether playing at home becomes heavy on the players I don’t know but it is what it is,” said the 61-year-old.

“We’re playing at home and our performances have to lift the crowd and we didn’t do that.

“We have to be strong enough characters to deal with playing at home and there can be no excuses.”

Blues rarely troubled the Chairboys and Bond believes he is now in charge of a ‘fragile’ group.

“We’ve had a number of players who have had to miss training since I’ve been here because of knocks,” said Bond.

“We’re a fragile bunch like that.

“The old ‘oh we aren’t fit enough’ I don’t know about that.

“We didn’t look it here but whether we have it within us or not I don’t know.

“We haven’t got long to do anything about that now. I couldn’t be saying we’re not fit enough because I would be being rude to people if I did.

“But it looked it and we played like it too.

“We have four games to get ourselves out of trouble which we can do.

“But what I’ve seen here just isn’t acceptable.”