Albion manager Micky Adams has pointed the finger at his midfield for a rare away defeat.

Southend came from behind to beat the Seagulls 2-1 with a powerful second-half performance at Roots Hall last night.

They became only the second side to beat Albion in eight games and Adams knew who to blame.

"We dominated the first half with some really good football which carried on from where we left off at Peterborough," he said.

"But in the second half we lost it in midfield.

"We weren't tight enough and we allowed them to dominate the game and get too many crosses in."

Defender Nathan Jones lifted Southend above Albion with an 87th- minute winner after Martin Carruthers had cancelled out Paul Watson's spectacular first-half strike from long range.

The Seagulls' second away League defeat has dropped them out of the play-off places to 10th.

Adams is considering bringing in a striker on loan to cover for top scorer Darren Freeman, who is suspended from the next three matches.

Teenager Scott Ramsay is also in contention for Freeman's forward role in Saturday's home game against Hartlepool.

Ramsay replaced him in the second half last night and Adams said: "He showed a lot of promise."

The Reserves are away to Leyton Orient in the Avon Insurance Combination League today (2pm).

Albion Reserves (from): Ormerod; Johnson, Palmer, Andrews, Hobson, Mayo, Armstrong, Wilkinson, Ramsay, Thomas, Newhouse, Cameron.

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