MANAGER Kelvin Davis admitted Eastleigh's National League play-off hopes look unlikely following a 2-1 defeat to Southend on Saturday.

The Shrimpers grabbed the lead in the opening minute when Tom Hopper finished after a James Morton corner.

Gus Scott-Morriss then headed in his 17th goal of the season in first-half stoppage time, with the hosts pulling one back through Tyrese Shade 10 minutes into the second half.

Kevin Maher’s Southend, now nine National League games without defeat, moved to within a point of the play-off places while Kelvin Davis’ Eastleigh dropped to 11th.

"I think I'm very realistic, the play-offs are probably out of reach now," Davis admitted. "We had high hopes of reaching them with a win today.

"A win would have put us in a great position, not just points-wise but with our mentality. I wonder how much the draw last week has affected us as a group.


“The first half was really disappointing. We conceded just before halftime when we were trying to organise ourselves to get back into the game at halftime

“That was particularly hard to take. I asked for some personality and character change at halftime and we certainly got that.

“We were the stronger of the two teams, we got a goal at the right time and we hit the post, square in the middle. Everyone in the stadium thought that was going in.

“That would have pushed the game in our direction but that’s football, that’s how it goes. I asked them to show up at halftime, to show good energy.

“(I wanted them) to play for Eastleigh and wear the shirt with pride. No one turns up to have a poor game but there needed to be a reaction at halftime. I’m glad we got that.”

Eastleigh made a double change at the break, introducing Scott Quigley and Chris Maguire in place of Paul McCallum and Angel Waruih.

Quigley made an instant impact when he set up Shade's 12th goal of the National League campaign 10 minutes after entering the field.

“Pleased for Quiggs and Mags coming on at halftime. I said to them, ‘Don’t think it’s a token and I’m bringing you on because I’m unhappy with Macca and Angel achieved in the first half’.

“It wasn’t about that. It was about changing the dynamic of our play. Macca and Angel have been great for us, it wasn’t a highlight of their negative play.

“If the shot which hits the post goes in, we come away with three points. We also conceded a couple of big chances.

“They will feel hard done by, feeling they deserved another goal in the game. The timing of our chance would have changed the game if it went in.”