Southend United boss rues 'misses opportunity' after defeat to Mansfield Town

Jamie Reid hit the only goal of the game as Mansfield made it five EFL win on the spin for the first time since 1991.

But the Southend gaffer was left to rue missed second half chances by Timothee Dieng and Simeon Akinola.

A point would have lifted United off the bottom of the League Two table.

Andy Garner on why victory was ‘fully deserved’ for Mansfield

“It was a tough battle. I’m really disappointed as it was a big opportunity missed for us,” he said.

“There wasn’t much in the game and it was another tough battle. I think at this stage of the season, with the current weather, the games are always quite tough, battling affairs.

"They’re not the most technical affairs, but again we’ve momentarily switched off, had a lapse in concentration and been punished for it.

“That’s really disappointing because we haven’t given up too many clear cut chances, albeit we haven’t created too many ourselves.

2At the same time, we’ve had a great one for Sim [Akinola] at the back post with that header and a penalty shout, but we can’t hide behind the fact that we’ve lost that game.

"We need to show more guile in the attacking third, and again a momentary lapse in concentration has cost us dearly.

“They took their [chance] and we didn’t take ours – small details, big impact. That’s where we find ourselves at the moment. It’s bitterly disappointing but only ourselves can get ourselves out of it and we can’t hide behind excuses."