SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher questioned the character of his side following a 3-2 defeat at Chesterfield.

The table-topping Spireites scored twice with 10 men to see off the Shrimpers.

And Maher could not contain his disappointment at the final whistle “When you’re playing top of the table teams you’ve got to stand up to it,” said Maher.

“We got into the lead and with them down to 10 men you’ve got to win the game.

“We went into our shells and decided to sit back.

“It’s not a lack of quality, it’s a lack of desire.

“It’s the mentality more than anything else. “It tells me about character with one or two.

“But I’m not waiting for anyone.

“If they can’t cope with coming to a top of the table team, being 2-1 up with a bit of a crowd going then they shouldn’t be here.”

Goals from Callum Powell and Marcus Dackers had seen the Shrimpers fight back to lead at the Technique Stadium.

And Maher felt Blues should have been able to pick up three points.

“Proper teams would put that to bed but we’re not that yet,” said Maher.

“We’re a nearly team all the time.

“You can’t carry people.

“I’m not having that.

“We’ll lose one or two over it.

“We’ll find out about character and find out about people in games like this.

“We have too many who are a bit too weak for it.

“We do some things ever so well but we’re naïve with a lot of things.

“People have got to learn quickly if they’re to come on the journey with us."

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>Match report: Chesterfield 3, Blues 2