AFTER 15 months without a league draw at Roots Hall, Southend United were held to their second in the space of just five days at the weekend.

A crowd of more than 8,000 fans saw the Shrimpers fight back to secure a share of the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.

And the match again followed a recent trend for Kevin Maher’s team who found themselves going behind for the fifth match in succession.

Dagenham dominated early on and fully deserved the lead given to them by Ryan Hill after just 14 minutes.

But so sustained was their period of pressure that the visitors could easily have gone further ahead before the break.

Josh Rees was denied by the crossbar and Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi who then also did well to stop Harry Phipps scoring during a largely one-sided opening half.

The pattern of play would have been concerning for anyone connected with the Shrimpers, especially given how consistent slow starts have become.

Dagenham, Wealdstone, Oldham, Altrincham and Aldershot have all scored first against Blues in the past couple of weeks.

And the four teams taking the lead at Roots Hall have done so inside the opening 18 minutes.

Now acknowledging the stat is one thing, working out how to stop it is something far trickier.

Blues boss Kevin Maher and his staff will be looking at everything in their bid to overcome the issue which could be caused by a variety pf reasons.

Psychologically, the Shrimpers will be keen to get on the front foot and exert their game onto the opposition.

But it could well be that the Shrimpers are taking too many risks too early and are being caught out on the counter-attack.

Tactically, three of the early goals conceded have come from the visitors attacking down their left hand side where perhaps Blues are leaving themselves exposed in that area of the pitch.

Gus Scott-Morriss, at right wing-back, has been right up there with the Shrimpers’ best players this season but he is quite clearly playing through the pain with a knee problem right now which could perhaps be slightly lowering his usual extremely high energy levels.

Furthermore, Blues have also been hit by injuries to Harry Taylor and Ollie Kensdale – mainstays of their defence this term – meaning a new look back three are forging a new look rearguard which could take time to settle.

Individually, those coming into the team have performed well but collectively it can take time to adjust, especially when there seems to be less protection in front of them.

That is the negative side of Saturday out of the way but there were plenty of positives too.

Andeng Ndi made some fine saves between the sticks and the Shrimpers were by far the better side in the second half.

Just two minutes after the break, Blues drew back level with a well-worked goal as the fit-again Harry Cardwell sped down the right hand side before delivering an inviting low cross for Danny Waldron to tap home.

Waldon has now netted twice in six starts for the Shrimpers and you sense he will get stronger and sharper the more he plays.

Waldron is still adjusting to full-time football but was encouragingly in the right place at the right time to hit the back of the net against Dagenham.

After the striker’s latest goal, Blues looked the more likely winner with Henry Sandat smashing a late shot against the crossbar.

It was therefore tough to know whether to be pleased or disappointed with a point from the Shrimpers’ perspective.

But given the difference in the two halves a point was probably about right, even though both sides will still be thinking they could and should have won.

Blues are now seven matches unbeaten and have moved 10th in the National League ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Dorking Wanderers at Roots Hall.

However, for the Shrimpers to keep moving forward and pick up more points they must eliminate their early errors and make Saturday’s second half showing very much the sign of things to come.