SOUTHEND United’s Football League status is hanging by a thread following tonight’s 2-0 defeat against Tranmere Rovers at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers never looked like troubling their play-off pushing visitors.

And the setback leaves Mark Molesley’s side 23rd in the League Two standings, level on points with Barrow who sit just above the drop zone with three games in hand on Blues.

Southend made three changes to their starting line-up, with defender Shaun Hobson surprisingly among those to be left out.

Ricky Holmes was among those to be recalled and the winger saw an early chip easily saved by Tranmere goalkeeper Scott Davies before the visitors hit back with Liam Feeney sending a dangerous right wing cross across the face of goal.

The Shrimpers soon replied with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild having a low effort parried out by Davies but, after surviving the scare, Tranmere bagged the opening goal of the game after just eight minutes following a well-worked move down the right hand side.

That eventually resulted in Kaiyne Woolery pushing forward and delivering a low cross which picked out Paul Lewis who thundered home a well struck shot from 12 yards via the underside of the crossbar.

Moments later, Lewis had a close range header ruled out for offside but Blues were not let off for long as Rovers doubled their lead in the 24th minute as a left wing cross from Feeney was headed into the right hand side of the South Stand net by George Ray.

The shell shocked Shrimpers responded by making a double change at the break as Brandon Goodship and Sam Hart both entered the action in place of Emile Acquah and Tom Clifford.

However, Tranmere still threatened next with Lee O’Connor volleying wide of the left post before Blues make another double change in the 69th minute with Kyle Taylor replacing Jason Demetriou and Ashley Nathaniel-George coming on for Holmes.

Shortly after his arrival Taylor fired tamely over the crossbar from 14 yards after an attempted effort from Elvis Bwomono had deflected into his path.

But Tranmere were rarely troubled and soon wasted a great chance to make it 3-0 when Lewis headed Feeney's right-wing free-kick over the crossbar from close range.

The Shrimpers responded by making their final change of the night as Alan McCormack replaced Nathan Fergusoin in the centre of the park.

But, despite the changes, the shot-shy Shrimpers still failed to trouble Tranmere and have now gone four games without scoring.

Furthermore, Blues have not scored in six of their last seven games and are now firmly starring at a second successive relegation.