Brown: We need change of style to beat drop

PHIL Brown insists he can guide Southend United to safety – despite starting his second spell in charge with a goalless draw.

The share of the spoils at Roots Hall kept the Shrimpers second from bottom, four points from safety with just five games to go.

But Brown, who replaced Mark Molesley as manager recently, is certain his side can stay up.

“We have the spirit and quality to stay up, it’s just the style we have to transform,” said Brown.

“The previous incumbent had a style of play that was completely foreign to me. I’ve admired the qualities of the players but that gritty determination and resolve that’s required to win games at this level is totally different.

“I’ve got to get that across to them and that’s my job next week.

“We all know we need goals.

“We’ve got the spirit, organisation and commitment to keep a clean sheet, it’s up front where we’re struggling.

“The two sides were going at each other and fighting for every challenge, but that quality eluded both sides.

“We could have won it, but we could have lost it, too.”

Southend have now failed to score in their past seven home games and netted just 24 goals this season.

The Shrimpers rarely threatened in the first half and Crawley came closest to scoring when James Tilley saw an effort headed off the line by Tyler Cordner, before Ashley Nadeson bizarrely opted to pass when well placed.

After the break, Shrimpers midfielder Nathan Ferguson fired against the left post from 20 yards before Reeco Hackett-Fairchild was denied from close range by Glenn Morris when the on-loan Portsmouth winger should really have found the net. In reply, Nadeson somehow saw his six-yard shot kept out by keeper Mark Oxley.

Crawley have now failed to win in seven matches. But boss John Yems was not too disappointed with a point.

“We created chances but you’ve got to stick them in the net,” said Yems.

“Southend are fighting for their lives and they had a go. We did what we could do and if you said at the start of the season you can come to Southend and get a point I’d have bitten your hand off.”