MARK Oxley feels Southend United’s players only have themselves to blame for their dire run of results.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley means the Shrimpers have now been beaten in eight of their 10 League One matches so far this season.

But Oxley is keen for Blues’ squad to take responsibility.

“There were a few harsh words in there and I think a lot of us need to have a look in the mirror,” said Oxley.

“We can’t keep having manager after manager.

“The blame will go to them ultimately but as a group of players something needs to change.

“We didn’t do enough to get anything from the game and I don’t think their keeper had a save to make.

“We didn’t have the ball in their area much either but it’s only us who can change it.”

The Shrimpers started the season with six successive defeats before Kevin Bond departed and was replaced on a caretaker basis by Gary Waddock.

Oxley has enjoyed working with the former Wycombe Wanderers boss.

And that made Saturday’s setback tough to take for the Shrimpers shot-stopper.

“Gaz has been a breath of fresh air since he came in,” said Oxley, who turned 29 on Saturday.

“All the lads really like him and it makes this even more disappointing.

“Last week we showed resilience and fight not just for ourselves but for Gaz as well.

“But we didn’t do it enough.”

The Shrimpers, who had Nathan Ralph sent off in the second half, have still not won at home this season.

However, Oxley remains convinced Blues can still recover from their shocking start to the season if they can find a mean streak.

“You have to have belief but we have to find that nastiness,” said Oxley.

“With all due respect to Accrington, I don’t think they’re the best footballing team we will play against but they had a bit of steel about them to see it through.”

And Oxley was also frustrated by how Blues reacted to conceding what proved to be the only goal of the game.

“I think a few heads dropped when we went behind which we can’t have,” said Oxley.

“We had to show more about us as a group when we went down to 10 men too.

"The reason the manager went before was because of us so we’ve only got ourselves to look at.

"It’s out there where it counts and we’ve got to do whatever it takes to get a result.”