SOUTHEND United manager Mark Molesley insists he is leaving ‘no stone unturned’ in his pursuit of more goals.

The second from bottom Shrimpers - who head to Harrogate Town on Saturday - have failed to score in six of their last seven games.

And Molesley is doing all he can to bring more out of his side in the final third.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned,” said the Blues boss.

“We’re methodical about these things and we’re analytical too.

“We practise as much as we can and we create the scenarios too.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the games and sometimes that’s an unmeasurable thing.

“But it’s a technical thing so we have to practise and we also have to be better, brighter and braver.”

Blues’ only goal in their last seven outings came when Ashley Nathaniel-George scored from the penalty spot at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

And Molesley feels the ongoing failings in front of goal result in more pressure being placed on his players’ shoulders.

“Sometimes the longer it goes on the more the pressure builds,” said Molesley.

“Sometimes it’s about relieving that pressure and giving them something to focus on, whether it’s your technique or your timing.

“It’s not good enough to be missing the target though and we’ve got to be at least forcing the keeper into a save.

“But we are creating chances and that’s a positive thing.”

The Shrimpers are now six points from safety with just nine games to go.

But Molesley still feels Blues can close the gap.

“There’s still total confidence and belief in the group,” said the 40-year-old.

Our performances have been good but our results haven’t been where they needed to be and where we wanted them to be.

“We’re hitting the right criteria in terms of having more chances than the other team.

“If you keep doing that then the law of averages suggest it falls right in the end.

“We need to keep being braver in terms of taking responsibility in the final third but we’re creating more. “

And Molesley knows that must continue if the Shrimpers are to somehow work their way out of trouble.

“The more you dominate the more chances you’ll create and the more you create the more chances you have to score,” said Molesley.

“If we weren’t creating chances and the other team was playing better than us it would be a different story but that’s not the case.

“We haven’t got the points we felt like we’ve deserved.

“But we can’t keep being unlucky because it’s happened regularly.

“We have to be better in that final third and we’re well aware of that.”

The Shrimpers have scored just 22 goals in their 37 League Two matches so far this season.