Davis insists defeat at Southend will not define Eastleigh's season

Southend ended a three-game winless run by beating National League high-flyers Eastleigh at Roots Hall on Tuesday evening.

First-half goals from Nathan Ralph and Jack Bridge were enough to extend the Shrimpers’ unbeaten run to three matches.

After Gus Scott-Morriss was prevented from scoring for a fifth successive game by a fine Joe McDonnell save, Southend took the lead in the 24th minute when Ralph tapped in at the back post from Bridge’s cross.

Bridge added a second on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot following a handball, sending McDonnell the wrong way.

Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi saved from Chris Maguire and Richard Brindley as Eastleigh suffered a second away loss on the spin.

Davis said: "We knew it was going to be a tough test. Playing at Southend midweek is a challenge.

"We knew that the tempo of their play was going to be uncomfortable for us at times. They got a goal in good moments and we didn't do that.

Eastleigh boss Kelvin Davis (Image: Graham Scambler Photography)
"The penalty, I don't know how anyone can see why it was given. I spoke to Lloyd and he said he was shoved over. The referee was quick to give it.

"Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't. We can take that one on the chin. There aren't many teams that we've played against where we haven't scored.

"We had more opportunities in the first half compared to the second half. If we would have got a goal it would have been an interesting evening."

Davis never wants his players to get too low following a defeat or too high after a win. He reinforced that idea to his squad at full-time.

"We have put ourselves in a strong position," he continued. "Yeah, we've lost a game away from home but there is another game on Saturday.

"Results come from nowhere in this league. Not picking anything up away at Southend is not going to define our season."

New signing Wes McDonald came on from the bench at Southend to make his Spitfires debut following his arrival on a short-term deal.

"For us, he is someone who is going to add a bit of impact," Davis concluded. He is a good ball carrier.

"Because of the state of the game, we brought him on to bring more of an attacking force onto the pitch.

"We brought him on as a wing-back to try and bring a bit of width to the game. Between him and Tyrese, they put the ball into the box a few times.

"But there was a feeling that if we were still playing now we wouldn't score. I think it was just one of them nights where it wasn't meant to be."