SOUTHEND United continued their pre-season preparations with a painful 5-1 defeat against West Ham United’s under 23 side tonight.

The Shrimpers took an early lead with Matt Rush firing home against the young Hammers at Roots Hall.

But the visitors hit back to record a convincing and comfortable victory which further underlined the size of the task facing Blues boss Phil Brown as he bids to rebuild the club after back to back relegations.

Despite the final score-line, Blues began brightly with Rush sending a deflected left footed shot wide of the left post but the youngster was not to be denied for long as he broke the deadlock with a fine finish in the 11th minute.

Summer signing James Dunne started the move with a battling run down the right hand side before his low cross teed up Rhys Murphy.

The striker’s shot was blocked by a Hammers defender before Rush raced onto the rebound and netted with a low, left footed shot he rolled into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Moments later, Murphy headed over a right wing cross from Jason Demetriou before the Hammers hit back and equalised in the 28th minute when Amadou Diallo’s powerful long range shot was parried out by Harry Seaden, enabling Nevers to head home from close range.

Shortly after the equaliser, Blues made their first change of the night with Deon Moore replacing Murphy in attack.

But West Ham remained on top and took the lead in the 39th minute when Emmanuel Longelo’s right wing corner found an unmarked Jamal Baptiste who headed home from 10 yards.

The Hammers increased their advantage four minutes into the second half when Nevers netted his second goal of the night, heading home an inviting right wing cross from Harrison Ashby.

Mesaque Dju then fired wide of the target when well placed before seeing a powerful effort smartly saved by Seaden.

Blues responded by making nine changes in the 65th minute but just seconds later the Hammers made it 4-1 with Dju thundering home a well struck shot following a poor attempted clearance from Miles Mitchell-Nelson.

Fellow substitute Will Atkinson, who is back at Blues on trial, was soon forced to make way with what appeared to be a hamstring problem And the Hammers added insult to injury by scoring a fifth late on with Nevers completing his hat-trick from close range.

Southend United: Seaden, Demetriou (Howard 65), White (Mitchell-Nelson 65), Hobson (Davis 65), Sayers (Clifford 65), Walsh (Egbri 65), Dunne (Atkinson 65(Chandler 68), Ogogo (Ferguson 65), El-Mhanni, (Dennis 65) Murphy (Moore 30) (Moore 80)), Rush (Kargbo 65)