SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown feels a physical edge is needed to succeed in League Two.

Brown takes Blues to Barrow this weekend bidding to keep his side's slight survival hopes alive.

And the Shrimpers chief believes teams must be able to dig in to avoid defeat. 

"There are some misguided coaches out there and I’m not naming anyone here but some people think it’s all about playing the beautiful game in League Two," said Brown.

"People think that can be the way to win promotion and titles but they forget about the physical side and you have to have both.

"You have to have a foothold in the competition before you can have that football side.

"That’s probably been our downfall this season without wanting to be detrimental to any manager or holding anyone else responsible other than myself."

And Brown felt that was the case when Barrow won against Forest Green in midweek.

"On Tuesday, Barrow played with more physical strength than Forest Green," said Brown.

"Forest Green wanted to play the technical side of the game but didn’t earn the right to.

"I’m not there to tell them how to play.

"I was there scouting Barrow and I let at half-time if truth be known because if Forest Green didn’t turn up for the second half it could have been a cricket score."