Boss Jim Magilton had praise for striker Billy Clarke who scored one and created one after coming off the bench as the Blues defeated Southend 3-1 at Roots Hall. Magilton was generally pleased with the performance, although he was concerned at his side's late jitteriness.

Magilton says that 18-year-old Clarke will go a long way: "He is going to be a special player. He has got all the attributes and we're delighted to have him at this club.

"He has proved he can do it at this level. We normally like to put him on after an hour, but he is desperate to play and desperate to score goals.

“After the week we have had we showed a lot of character and we deserved to win the game.

"We looked a bit jittery at times and if we want to be a top side we have to start putting teams away. But I'm pleased.

"We've got to take confidence out of the performance and, most importantly, the result, because we needed a win, and push on from here and look to put together a decent run of form.

"There is a lot more to come from this side, we know that and, having been three goals up, I wasn't too pleased that we let them back in the game and gave them a sniff of a chance, me being the perfectionist that I am.

"But we held firm in the end and in patches we played some very good football and I don't think anyone can argue that we didn't deserve the three points.

"I have to pay tribute to Southend though, they kept trying to pass the ball and that is to their credit. They are certainly deserving of being in this division."

Magilton is not yet sure of the extent of the three knocks picked up at Roots Hall: "Jon has a hamstring injury but we're not too sure how bad it is at the moment.

"Mark had to come off at the end and we'll have a look at him on Sunday, while Lewis took a knock on his hip.

“Hopefully, that was just a knock and not too serious, but we will leave the medical team to look at all of them. Obviously, it's a concern, though."

Southend boss Steve Tilson conceded that his side were second best: "We didn't play well enough and we didn't pass the ball well enough.

"We gave the ball away too often and in this league you don't get it back. In the last 35 minutes we gave it a right go, but by then it was too late.

"The players believe in themselves and their ability, but we have only got a small squad.

"The front two had to come off with a virus and we're short of bodies as it is, so I might have to look at getting somebody in on loan."

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