ANOTHER Saturday, another sub standard showing from Southend United.

This time the struggling Shrimpers slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Peterborough United.

And, with the continuation of limp and lacklustre displays, relegation is now looming large.

The damning statistics are by now well known.

Blues have gone 11 games without a win and have taken just four points from the last 33 with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom four.

The weekend’s trip to Peterborough was therefore of huge significance.

Chairman Ron Martin demonstrated that by subsidising coach travel for the Shrimpers supporters.

And if there was ever a time to step up, dig in and produce a committed, hard working display – this was it.

But what ultimately transpired was in fact the complete opposite as Blues failed to ruffle Peterborough’s feathers and perhaps most damning of all were unable to register a single shot on target.

Posh’s victory saw them move back into the play-off places.

However, ahead of Saturday’s showdown, Darren Ferguson’s side had also been enduring a run of patchy form themselves.

Posh had suffered three successive defeats before taking on the Shrimpers and had also triumphed in just two of their last 12 outings.

But their victory against Southend must have been their easiest of the season so far as they hardly had to break sweat to come out on top.

Right now, Blues are severely lacking in confidence but have become far too nice to play against.

Instead of forcing themselves onto teams, setting the tempo and playing with passion, the Shrimpers sit back and often appear to be playing not to lose rather than looking to take the initiative themselves. As a result, the pressure continues to grow on manager Chris Powell, who was again understandably downbeat in his post-match interview.

Chairman Ron Martin continues to back the former Blues left-back and his loyalty to his managers is to be applauded at a time where many clubs constantly chop and change who is in charge.

However, right now it is hard to see just where the Shrimpers’ next win is coming from and it is sad to see.

Powell was a hugely popular figure during his playing days at Roots Hall and you are unlikely to meet many nicer men in football.

But, as horrible as it is to say, he must be running out of time to put things right. As things stand, Blues seem destined for the drop.

And Powell is facing what must be the toughest task of his entire managerial career to turn things around.

Yes, injuries have not helped his cause and he remains short of attacking options with Tom Hopper and Stephen Humphrys still sidelined.

But the Shrimpers have also contributed to that shortage of strikers by not signing a replacement for Theo Robinson on transfer deadline day.

And if the ankle injury Simon Cox suffered on Saturday proves to be a serious setback then Blues are in deep danger of returning to League Two. Cox, for me, has been Southend’s best player this season and his goals are the Shrimpers’ best bet of avoiding relegation.

Without him, there is no senior striker available to lead the line for a game of huge significance against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday. Emile Acquah impressed off the bench in attack at the weekend and his display was arguably the only bright spot of the day.

But Blues should not be having to rely on untried and untested youngsters at this stage of the season when relegation remains a serious concern.

The Shrimpers’ supporters aired their concerns at the weekend and, quite simply, they deserve far better than what they are seeing right now. More than 900 fans travelled to London Road but were let down by those wearing Southend shirts.

Time is quickly running out for Blues and there are now just seven games of the season to go.

Nine more points are likely to be needed to maintain the Shrimpers’ League One status but that seems a tall order right now. More performances like Saturday and Blues will be back in the basement League.

But to stop that happening Southend must be brave, show character, go on the front foot, play with more attacking intent, get stuck in and show passion. However, it is quickly becoming now or never in their bid to beat the drop.