SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher felt the Shrimpers paid the price for not scoring when on top at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Blues were beaten 2-0 at Victoria Road in the fourth round of the FA Trophy.

And Maher was disappointed by the defeat.

“I’m frustrated,” said the Blues boss.

“I thought we started ever so well and had a couple of good chances which when you’re on top you need to take.

“We probably didn’t work the keeper enough, especially in the first half when we were on top.

“But I don’t think we had enough quality in the final third to test the keeper or get that goal which is frustrating.”

Maher made five changes to his starting line up for the game.

But the Blues boss insisted most of the alterations were forced upon him.

“We had to make the changes, we had no choice,” said Maher.

“Will Atkinson and Rhys Murphy were injured and Harrison Neal was cup-tied.

“Kacper (Lopata) has had his knee problem so we’ve had to protect him on that and Cliffy (Tom Clifford) hadn’t trained so we’ve had to protect him too with him coming back from a long-term injury.”