SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher believes the Shrimpers ‘need a bit of help’ following tonight’s 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield at Roots Hall.

Blues have been unable to add to their squad since September due to a transfer embargo.

And Maher hinted that the lack of fresh faces is now starting to hit his squad hard.

“Cards is back from injury, Chrissy Wreh has been injured, Dan Mooney’s been injured but at times we can’t strengthen,” said Maher.

“You see what they’re bringing off the bench tonight – Dallas, Banks, they brought in McCallum as well and we need a bit of help.

“It’s very tough but it’s been that way for a while.

“All the teams are trying to strengthen at the minute and we haven’t done that.”

Blues have now suffered two home defeats in the space of five days.

And Maher thought his side improved after looking nervy in the first half.

“We hate losing but we kept on going and towards the end we’re pushing to get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“In the first half it felt like we were nervous and there was a little bit of tension.

“We didn’t pass the ball well enough and we turned it over cheaply.

“When we won it back we gave it back to them too easily but we still had a couple of good chances.

“The keeper has made a good save from Bridgey (Jack Bridge) but we got done on a set piece which no team would be happy with.”

And Maher also thought confidence could have played a part.

“Confidence is a strange thing,” he added.

“We played ever so well on Friday but we lost the game and that drains your confidence a touch.

“They scored in the last minute in their last game and that does wonders for your confidence so maybe you saw that in the first half but they’ve only scored off a set piece.

“Once we got ourselves together again off the back of the second we got going."

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