A DIRE week for Southend United ended with a depressing 4-1 defeat at Notts County this afternoon.

After drawing with relegation rivals Maidenhead and admitting to a transfer embargo the Shrimpers lifted the spirits early on at Meadow Lane with Sam Dalby on target.

But the promotion chasing County hit back to leave Blues – who ended the match with Jason Demetriou in goal - hovering above the drop zone on goal difference.

Notts County came close to taking an early lead with Kyle Wootton seeing his six yard header tipped over the crossbar by Blues goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

But the Shrimpers stood firm and broke the deadlock themselves in the 10th minute, with Dalby on target for the fifth time this season.

The striker was teed up by Rhys Murphy after a half cleared Nathan Ralph cross had been flicked on by Lewis Gard and fired home a fine left footed shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

County soon hit back with Frank Vincent firing wide from long range but, with 31 minutes on the clock, the hosts drew back level following a mistake from Ralph.

The Blues defender was caught in possession on the right flank, enabling Wootton to cut in and tee up Cal Roberts to fire home with a low, left footed shot from close range.

The home-side remained on top after the break with Arnold doing well to deny both Roberts and Richard Brindley before the Shrimpers hit back with Tom Clifford sending a right footed shot straight at Sam Slocombe following a half cleared right wing cross from Murphy.

The hosts soon hit back with James Dunne doing brilliantly to block a goalbound effort from Roberts before Richardson charged down an attempted clearance from Arnold, only for the ball to fly wide of the right post.

But County were not to be denied for long and took the lead in the 63rd minute when Richardson got in behind Clifford before delivering a low, right wing cross Wootton converted at the far post.

Blues boss Kevin Maher responded by bringing on Nathan Ferguson in place of Gard but County stayed on top and made it 3-1 in the 71st minute, with Wootton again on target.

The striker let fly with a low effort from a narrow angle which Arnold could only push into the back of the net in disappointing fashion.

The Shrimpers soon made a second change with Matt Rush taking the place of Clifford in the 76th minute before a bizarre substitution was forced just seconds later, with Arnold having to limp off.

With no goalkeeper on the bench, Demetriou went between the sticks with Will Atkinson coming on at right-back.

Demetriou was immediately involved as he tipped a fine effort from Parsons around the right post.

But County made it 4-1 in the 88th minute with Kyle Cameron heading home a right wing cross from Richardson.

The Shrimpers thought they had a goal back late on with Dalby firing home but the effort was ruled out by a heavily delayed offside flag.