SOUTHEND United manager Mark Molesley stayed upbeat despite the Shrimpers slipping to a 1-0 defeat against Forest Green Rovers at Roots Hall tonight.

The bottom of the table Blues now sit six points from safety with an vastly inferior goal difference to those around them.

But Molesley felt encouraged by his side’s performance.

“We won’t get too down because despite everything that was a strong performance against one of the better teams in the League,” said Molesley.

“I’m disappointed we haven’t won because it could easily have gone our way.

“It was a battling performance and the game plan was working really well.

“I felt like we nullified one of the better sides we’ve seen but we missed a couple of guilt edged chances at vital times in the game.

“That’s the story of our season really and unfortunately we made a bit of mistake for their goal too.

“The ball could’ve been cleared and we’ve been punished for it.”

The defeat came just three days after Blues called off their clash with Cambridge United after insisting they were unable to field a side.

And Molesley – who was missing three players due to coronavirus restrictions – admitted things had been far from straight forward for the Shrimpers.

“The squad is decimated at the moment and it’s been quite disrupted since our win at Walsall,” said Molesley.

“But we have to keep working hard. We need to eradicate these mistakes and we’ve got to find some goals as well.”

And Molesley knows that must happen soon to stop the Shrimpers becoming cut adrift.

“There’s a long way to go but we need to be winning games, we’re well aware of that,” said the 39-year-old.

“The quicker we can get a few back the more that will help us.

“But it’s great to have Alan McCormack and for John White to play 90 minutes too.”