SOUTHEND United made light of their striker shortage to beat Halifax Town 3-0 at Roots Hall.

On loan Hull-City youngster Henry Sandat was the only recognised forward available to Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher.

But his side were still able to brush aside the best defence in the division to get back to winning ways.

“There’s talk and worry, panicking about not getting a striker in and do this, do that but calm down,” said Maher.

“We know what we’re trying to do but some of it is out of our hands.

“We think we’ve got a good base to take this on further and that’s a credit to the players.”

Sandat fired the Shrimpers into an early third before a double from Gus Scott-Morriss completed the scoring in the second half.

And Maher was full of praise for the performance.

“I’m delighted,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“The games we lost were very tight and we played well in them.

“The worry is confidence can drain slightly when you don’t win games so it was the perfect response to win and win comfortably in the end too.”

Right wing-back Scott-Morriss helped where that was concerned and Maher was impressed with the defender’s display.

“Gus finished it off ever so well and he’s timed it well with two good finishes,” said Maher.

“He's a top player and a top professional.

“He deserved the goals and he keeps going but all of them do.”