SOUTHEND United set an unwanted club record when suffering a dramatic 4-3 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Never before in their 113-year history have the Shrimpers kicked off a new campaign with five successive League defeats.

But Kevin Bond’s side now have an undesired place in the Roots Hall history books.

And they achieved it in the most painful way possible.

Blues twice had a two-goal advantage at Adams Park and were still in front heading into the final minute of normal time.

However, they still contrived to return home empty-handed as Wycombe netted twice in the dying seconds to condemn Southend to a dramatic defeat.

The manner of the loss made it tough to take but dig beneath the pain and, unlike the previous four games, there were at least signs of promise from the Shrimpers.

Heading into Saturday’s clash, Blues had hardly threatened in the final third and the only goal they had registered was put into his own net by Blackpool’s Joe Nuttall.

But, having previously opted to line-up with just one man in attack, Bond paired Brandon Goodship with Stephen Humphrys and it immediately made a big difference.

Goodship joined Blues from non-league Weymouth after two prolific seasons as a central striker.

But, since signing for the Shrimpers, Goodship has mostly been used on the left hand side and has largely been unable to show off his predatory instincts.

However, Goodship featured in a central role at Adams Park and took just 14 minutes to hit the back of the net with an assured left footed finish.

Alongside him, Humphrys also sprung into life with an eye-catching display.

Humphrys kept Blues in League One with a never to be forgotten last-gasp winner against Sunderland on the final day of last season but, like many others, had endured a frustrating start to the campaign.

The striker had been on the bench for four of the first five fixtures but made the most of his recall at the weekend with two sublime strikes from long range.

The goals continued Humphrys’ impressive strike ratio since signing as he has now hit the back of the net seven times in 15 games, with five of those appearances coming off the bench.

Subsequently, the Shrimpers do look a far more threatening outfit when Humphrys is leading the line.

But that ultimately counted for very little on Saturday due to Blues’ ongoing problems at the other end of the pitch.

By now, Southend’s defensive frailties are well known and they have still to keep a clean sheet since January.

Ten goals have been shipped in the last three games and, in total, Blues have already conceded 14 League goals this term - more than any of the clubs playing in the top four divisions.

There was a slight degree of fortune attached to Wycombe’s first two goals, the first of which saw Shrimpers skipper Mark Milligan put the ball into his own net when attempting to make a challenge just inside the penalty area.

The second goal saw David Wheeler’s shot fortuitously roll into the path of Scott Kashket.

But, after that, Blues were also responsible for their own downfall as some bizarre substitutions meant they stopped doing what had got them on top in the first place.

Goalscorers Humphrys and Goodship were both taken off while a more defensive system was adopted which, given Blues’ notorious defensive problems, seemed extremely strange and naïve.

The changes also left the Shrimpers short of an out-ball in the final third of the pitch and meant Wycombe were able to continually attack.

The Chairboys – who are well-known for staging late fightbacks – signalled a warning when hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession.

But still Blues attempted to sit back rather than looking to expose any possible gaps Wycombe’s eagerness to attack could well have left.

And, as a result, it therefore came as no real surprise when the Chairboys turned the game on its head in the final few seconds to increase the pain and pressure on Shrimpers boss Bond.

For, while we may still be in August, big question marks are starting to surround the Southend chief.

And, given the club’s worst ever start to a season, he may well not have a lot more time to answer them.