BOREHAM Wood boss Luke Garrard was left ruing his side’s slow start in their 4-2 defeat to Southend United.

The Shrimpers scored three times inside the opening 23 minutes at Roots Hall to pile more misery on their relegation threatened opponents.

And Garrard admitted Wood gave themselves a mountain a climb.

“You can’t give any team in any division, whether you’re dog and duck, National League or the Prem, a three goal lead and that’s what we’ve done,” Garrard told the club’s YouTube channel.

“The first half has been the difference and it’s a huge frustration.

“You can’t say they haven’t worked hard in the second half but it’s too little too late.”

Boreham Wood have now suffered six defeats in succession and sit third from bottom in the table.

Wood are three points behind Wealdstone who sit just above the drop zone.

And Garrard believes Blues’ first goal hit his side hard at Roots Hall.

“We started the game on the front foot but then they get a goal and I can see it in the players, they lose complete confidence,” said Garrard.

“Like I said, you can’t allow an opposition to go two and definitely not three goals in front and that was the case this afternoon.

“We start the second half fantastically well but then they get the penalty.

“I don’t think it was a pen but we got the reaction after that to make it 4-2, then Angelo (Balanta) heads it and he makes a worldy to stop it going 4-3.

“But lets be honest you’re giving yourself such an uphill battle to even think about getting something from a game when you’re playing a side who control the ball like they do.

“It’s a huge frustration and if that’s what fighting looks like for some of them then that’s a problem to me.”

However, Garrard is not giving up hope.

“We’ve got four games to go and mathematically we’re right in it,” said Garrard.

“Until it’s done I’ll drive this group and we turned attentions towards Wealdstone now which is the biggest game in the club’s history.