THERE was a familiar feeling of frustration following Southend United’s stalemate at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

The Shrimpers were by far the better side at Boundary Park.

But, once again, Blues fluffed their lines in the final third and failed to score for the third game in succession.

The Shrimpers are now far tougher to beat and break down and no longer suffer the heavy hidings which were almost common place earlier on in the season.

Just three goals have now been conceded in the seven outings since a dire 5-1 defeat at Port Vale.

However, Blues still do not have the balance quite right and stating the obvious they will simply not stay up unless they start to score more goals.

The Shrimpers have now hit the back of the net just four times in seven games and three of those came in fine fashion at Forest Green Rovers.

But that is very much not the norm for a Southend side who, in all competitions, have failed to score 20 matches this season.

Furthermore, Blues have netted just 21 times in 33 League games and have the worst goalscoring record in the whole of the EFL.

That has been one of the main reasons for the Shrimpers’ struggles and, after Barrow’s 2-0 win against Mansfield Town on Saturday, Mark Molesley’s side find themselves back in the relegation zone. Barrow sit above Blues on goal difference but still have two games in hand and Southend are facing a huge fight to stay in the Football League.

A slow start contributed hugely to the current predicament with just five points being taken from the opening 14 games during which the Shrimpers’ goal difference slumped to minus 23.

The club’s off field issues including a transfer embargo led to incredibly inexperienced line-ups being fielded and meant other sides were handed something of a head-start. But, since the embargo was lifted at the start of December, five other sides have picked up fewer points than the struggling Shrimpers.

Yet it is Blues who remain in deep, deep danger. Thirteen matches still remain for the Shrimpers and it is time for far more attacking urgency. Ignoring last season when the campaign was curtailed, it has taken 45 points, on average during the past 10 seasons to avoid relegation from League Two.

That would leave Blues needing to pick a further 16 points and it would be tough to do that constantly playing on the back foot. The Shrimpers are currently looking not to lose rather than pushing to win and that was proved by the substitutions made on Saturday. With Blues looking to make a breakthrough, Greg Halford, Elvis Bwomono and Jason Demetriou were the three players brought on from the bench while the more attack minded Ricky Holmes and Brandon Goodship both remained unused.

Goodship has not made much of an impact since signing from Weymouth before the start of the season. But, in fairness, the striker has hardly ever been given a run of games in his most natural position. And with the current attackers failing to make an impression, surely it is time to try something different.

Blues did at least create chances at the weekend but none of them could be taken, with Emile Acquah the biggest culprit.

Acquah wasted three great chances to score and has faced criticism for his performances.

But, at just 20 years of age, the striker has been handed an incredibly difficult role perhaps before he is really quite ready and has also found himself short of support.

The Shrimpers are lacking alternative options, especially as Simeon Akinola went off injured at Boundary Park.

When fit, Akinola could be utilised more down the middle while Holmes also deserves an opportunity out wide. For, while every point may be precious, Blues will not be able to stay up on goalless draws alone.

And it is time to put far more onus onto the attack and to start taking chances, in more ways than one.