No more Mister Nice Guy

Jeff Wood got nasty with his players and now they need to get nastier as well.

Amean streak is missing from many of them. They are a great bunch of lads, the sort any mother would be glad for her daughter to bring home.

But nice guys are not normally winners.

Albion's poor disciplinary record should not be misinterpreted. They have hardly any naturally aggressive players, which is why when they try to show some steel they simply pick up bookings for daft challenges.

The Seagulls were nowhere near as bad at Roots Hall as they had been against Exeter. They had more shots on goal than Southend for a start but were punished for three mistakes.

Barry Hunter got the better of Derek Allan twice in the space of six minutes from corners on either side of the pitch by Scott Houghton to head the home side into a commanding lead.

Hunter was making his home debut on loan from Reading and only his second appearance in two years after a serious knee injury.

The 6ft.3ins former Northern Ireland international exposed Albion's need for a big and dominating centre half.

Captain Ian Culverhouse is usually stationed on the back post, where both of Hunter's goals went in, when the Seagulls defend set pieces. He ironically abandoned that position because of Southend's aerial strength.

Wood picked a positive formation, recalling the fit-again Stuart Storer to form a three-man attack.

At half time he boldly introduced new striker Lawrence Davies for Allan, dropped Andy Arnott back and moved Michael Bennett into midfield.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and Richard Barker so nearly scored it with a header which was cleared off the line during Albion's best spell.

That proved to be the final turning point. Minutes later Kevin Rapley, making his last appearance on loan from Brentford, pounced on a mistake by Bennett to rifle his fourth goal in three games.

Bennett, one of the most consistent performers this season, had an afternoon to forget. He also needlessly gave away the corner from which Hunter opened the scoring.

Albion urgently need an injection of creativity with Jeff Minton and Rod Thomas still both out injured. Culverhouse and Gary Hart, who rattled the crossbar in the closing stages, also miss this Saturday's match against Leyton Orient.

The Seagulls have failed to beat the O's in the past few seasons with their strongest side, yet alone being without their four best players.

It's too early to write off promotion, but the signs are ominous.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.