PLAYER coach Graham Coughlan has told Southend United's players they must show more passion if they are to successfully react to Saturday's 3-0 drubbing at Cheltenham Town.

Blues were well below par as they failed to make it six away league wins in a row for the first time in the club's history.

And Coughlan felt a poor attitude played a huge part in the depressing defeat.

“There are a couple of our players who think they're better than they actually are and they need to realise that without grit, determination and hard work you won't get very far in this game.” said Coughlan.

“I wasn't the best of footballers myself but I had heart, desire and passion and I made a living for myself. Without that players could find themselves dropping out of the game in the next couple of years because there are a lot of good players around now.

“I also know that without passion you will not spend long under Paul Sturrock's management and the players need to react in the right way now.”

Blues were easily beaten by their promotion rivals.

And Coughlan confessed that Southend could well have been beaten by a far heavier margin.

“Cheltenham could've scored four or five and I think we had one shot on goal which just isn't good enough,” said the Irishman.

“This certainly wasn't the type of performance which got us top of the league but we will have to wait and see if we can just put it down to an off day.”

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO