SOUTHEND United Paul Sturrock feels his team must improve their attacking mentality if they are to start converting more of their chances.

Blues, who host Accrington Stanley at Roots Hall tomorrow, has spurned a number of opportunities in their last few outings.

And Sturrock has been working hard to put that right.

“When we miss chances our heads seem to sometimes go down and we’ve been trying to sort that out on the training ground,” said Sturrock.

“People must have the right mentality to score goals and we’ve been emphasising that.

“I’m quite content with the number of chances we’re making but what concerns me is that we’re not taking them.

“We need confidence in front of goal, a bit of arrogance and people being positive too.

“On top of that we need to get them in the right areas to score goals and we’ve been working on that too.

“It’s been a case of repitition, repitition, repitition.

“When a golfer has a bad area of his game he just hits thousands of balls and we’ve been doing the same.

“We are doubling our efforts on set pieces in training as well and we want other players to let loose when they get near the goal.”

Blues failed to score against Charlton Athletic in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night and Sturrock again seems certain to alter his attack with Jack Midson returning to the team.

He will be partnered by Barry Corr or Antonio German but they seem likely to get more opportunities in front of goal as Accrington have struggled defensively this season.

But they have impressed in attack and Sturrock knows his team are in for another difficult afternoon.

“Accrington are a very difficult side to play,” said the Scotsman.

“They have a lot of pace and movement.

“They score a lot of goals and are dangerous but if we take our performance from the other night in to tomorrow’s game then we’re confident we can get the result we want.

“They do have a similar points tally to us though so it’s going to be close.”

*SOUTHEND United’s under 18 side will face Brentford in the second round of the FA Youth Cup next Friday.

The match will kick off at 7.30pm.

Ticket prices for the tie have been set at £3 adults and £1 concessions.

Ricky Duncan’s side are also in action tomorrow as they host Brighton and Hove Albion at Boots and Laces, kick off 11am.