SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher stressed he never doubted his players following this afternoon’s 4-2 victory at Solihull Moors.

The victory saw the Shrimpers get back to winning ways after back to back defeats.

And Maher was delighted with the character shown to pick up all three points.

“I don’t doubt the players,” said Maher.

“We’ve had tough time before and had a little bit of a sticky period but we will always respond.

“The coaching is different class and we’ve got Moncs (George Moncur) and Macauley Bonne getting up to speed.

“I believe in them and the fans who stayed in the rain at the end to cheer us shows what we can do together.

“It’s been a tough start but we’ve all got to stick together and there can be no factions.

“The fans stay with the players and we stay with them.

“There will be tough times coming and we are short until we get bodies back but we’ll stay together.”

A brace from Bim Pepple alongside goals from Keenan Appiah-Forson and Gus Scott-Morriss made sure of the win.

And Maher was happy to bounce back from Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at AFC Fylde.

“Off the back of Tuesday and the long journey, we thought it would be tough with a small squad and asking them to go again was going to be a big task,” said Maher.

“Losing in the last minute affects confidence but for them to play the way they did was all credit to them.

“Solihull are a really good side and we managed to keep them out at the end comfortably enough.”

And, at the other end of the pitch, the Shrimpers scored four goals away from home for the first time since January 2019.

“It was nice and the fans at the start were giving us a little bit!,” joked Maher.

“We haven’t had too many goalscorers and Gus has been the main one.

“But Bim took his goals well and he deserved that because he’s worked hard since he’s come to the club and it’s not been easy for him either. “