Kevin Maher reacts to Southend United's defeat at Aldershot Town

Blues – who remain in a transfer embargo amid serious financial issues – have now suffered back to back setbacks.

But Maher did not want to use off the field problems as an excuse.

“They’re a good group who are together,” said Maher.

“There are things we want to be perfect which aren’t but I’m not going to make excuses for the lads after losing a game of football.

“We’ve won games when we’ve been in the same situation and we will control what we can control but we’ve got to do better.”

Blues rarely threatened on a disappointing day at the EBB Stadium.

And Maher was not happy with the performance which saw his side gift Aldershot the lead in the first half.

“It’s disappointing and not good enough,” said Maher.

“We had loads of the ball in the first half and got into good areas but without testing their keeper enough.

“But that’s where we are at the top end of the pitch and we gave a goal away which was really disappointing from our point of view.

“All of a sudden you give them encouragement and momentum then we conceded from a set piece at the start of the second half which was really poor again.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.”

With Rhys Murphy, Callum Powell, Jake Hyde and Harry Cardwell all sidelined the Shrimpers are short of attacking options.

And Maher believes that is hitting Blues hard.

“The manner of the goals we’ve given away recently have been really poor but we’ve got to look like scoring too,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“With the balls we’ve had going in the box the last couple of games if you’ve got forwards in there who are getting on the end of things the game turns, even when you’re not playing well but we haven’t got that.

“It puts extra pressure on to keep clean sheets.

“But you look at what’s in the treatment room and we’ve lost Dackers too so that’s kind of where we’re at.”

However, Maher always knew the Shrimpers would have to cope with difficult spells this season.

“We knew there would be bumps in the road and we’ve done brilliantly with the lads who have played,” said the former Blues skipper.

“We’ve taken lads who have had to step up a level or two and perform.

“But having to do it Saturday, Tuesday every week can sometimes take its toll.

“If you look at the teams at the top end of the table and see what they have in those areas we’re not there yet.”

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