SOUTHEND United coach Craig Fagan praised an improved second half display after his under 23 side saw off Crawley 3-1 at Garon Park this afternoon.

Another brace from Eren Kinali and a well-taken effort from Matt Rush saw the Shrimpers fight back from going a goal behind.

And Fagan was pleased to see Blues bounce back from a slow start.

"We didn’t start well in the first half," said Fagan.

"It wasn’t good enough and I let the lads know that.

"But in the second half we played like the team we are.

"There were two or three lads that are usually with the first team, and the rest are normally with me.

"But because it was much better in the second half, we then managed to get some under 18s on which was good as well."

And Fagan was also pleased to see Kinali bag another two goals after the winger also did likewise against Watford last week.

“Eren gives his all, all the time," said Fagan.

"It’s a difficult situation he’s in, in terms of the first team because he’s been de-registered, but he keeps scoring goals.

"That’s all he’s got to keep doing; scoring goals, learning and getting into the right areas.

"I’m sure he’ll get another opportunity because if there’s one thing that’s needed in the first team at the moment it’s goals, and he’s doing that.”

And Kinali was again joined on the score-sheet by Rush who also earned praise from Fagan.

“It wasn’t an unbelievable goal but centre-forwards need to be in and around that six-yard box to tap it home," said Fagan.

"It’s about sniffing out those goals and, if you get five to 10 of those a season, you get into double-figures.

"In the last couple of games, Rushy has looked a lot sharper and he helps the team when he’s playing like that in terms of closing the ball down and making bad balls into good balls.

"That’s what he’s good at, as well as scoring goals.”

And Fagan will now turn his attention towards arranging more games for his young side. 

"We can’t get any of the lads out on loan, which is disappointing, so I need to get more games for the lads to play in, and I’ll be trying to do that between now and the end of the season," he added. 

Blues: Purcell, Chandler, Howard, Mitchell-Nelson, Osimeh, Stewart, Phillips, Benton, Eastwood, Rush, Kinali