Managerless Southend United's latest disjointed performance ended in a third consecutive league defeat at Rochdale's sparsely-populated Spotland home last night.

For the second time in the space of just five days, Blues were beaten by another of their Third Division relegation rivals, which could bring an abrupt end to caretaker boss Mick Gooding's one match tenure.

Shrimpers chairman John Main knows he needs to act fast and bring in a new man who can guide his rapidly sinking ship away from the stormy waters they are currently struggling against -- and he can't make the appointment too soon!

The Seasiders' latest slump comes hot-on-the-heels of last Friday's 1-0 Roots Hall defeat by fellow strugglers Hull City, which left Southend a mere six points away from the Conference drop zone and without a manager following Alvin Martin's resignation.

Yet worse still is the worrying statistic that Rochdale's triumph over Blues now gives revitalised bottom club Scarborough, who looked dead and buried only a few weeks ago, realistic hope of retaining their league status.

The Yorkshire club can draw level on points with Blues if they win their two games in hand, which would move the sorry Shrimpers ever closer to a bottom place finish and demotion for the third season on the trot.

A few weeks ago the thought of Southend playing non-league football for the First time since 1919 would have been scoffed at around Roots Hall.

However, on the evidence of last night's showing, Blues, who were playing in the First Division only two seasons ago, are so lacking in confidence and ideas it is hard to see them pulling themselves out of their current rut.

Gooding chopped and changed his side from the Hull disaster as he tried to find a formula which would enable his demoralised troops to pick up some reward at Spotland.

He reverted to a five man defence, with out-of-favour defender David Morley replacing suspended veteran Rob Newman and skipper Simon Coleman reinstalled to the starting line-up alongside Leo Roget.

He also gave transfer-listed utility man Alex Burns a rare chance to shine at right-wing-back in place of Mark Beard, who was also sitting out a ban.

New boy Mark Patterson, beginning his second spell with the club, was handed a debut start in midfield, supported by Lee Hodges and German Lars Unger, and Gooding opted for height up front, pairing Barry Conlon with Neil Campbell.

Any thoughts that Southend would come out all guns blazing, desperate to prove a point following Martin's resignation were soon dismissed as a nice idea.

The Shrimpers had no shape, couldn't string a pass together to save their lives and couldn't even begin to contemplate applying pressure on their opponents' goal as Rochdale pushed them back following a scrappy opening.

Dale full-back Paul Carden was Blues' tormentor in chief as he took full advantage of the acres of space he was allowed down the right-flank.

His first dangerously-whipped cross into the Southend box after 12 minutes found team-mate Robbie Painter with pinpoint accuracy, but the forward's header was pushed over the bar one-handed by Seasiders keeper Mel Capleton.

The right-back was only just beginning to enjoy himself and he pushed forward again two minutes later, finding Jason Lydiate's head with another centre which flashed just wide of the left-hand post.

However, Carden claimed an assist at the third time of asking as he was allowed to fire in another cross after 31 minutes to set up a fortunate goal for towering home hitman Andy Morris.

The defender's centre glanced off the head of Patterson and fell into the path of Morris who hooked the ball over his head and into the net, much to his own and Capleton's surprise.

Rochdale came inches away from a second goal eight minutes later when Jason Peake switched the ball 30-yards to Painter on the right wing and his volley from the edge of the Southend box smashed against Capleton's right upright.

However, Blues finally managed to register their first effort on target four minutes before half-time when Hodges broke away and fed Campbell the ball, but the big striker's curling shot from 18-yards was well held by Dale keeper Neil Edwards.

Campbell was replaced by Scott Houghton at the start of the second period, but it was Hodges who conjured up another chance 60 seconds after the restart when his left-wing corner saw Conlon head into Edwards' arms.

Blues began to restrict Rochdale's attacking momentum and started to build up some of their own as Gooding brought on his last two substitutes - Steve McGavin and Trevor Fitzpatrick.

However, Capleton was still forced to make two good saves from a Mark Monington header and a mishit Painter drive after 57 and 76 minutes.

Southend survived though, and stepped up a gear in the last quarter of an hour creating a golden opportunity for McGavin to equalise.

Coleman, in an unfamiliar forward role, got in a low cross from the left channel, which McGavin met with a close-range diving header, but David Bayliss blocked the effort with an outstretched leg.

Southend still managed to carve out one more chance, when Houghton was fouled on the edge of the Rochdale penalty area, but Patterson's powerful free-kick was tipped over the bar with two minutes left.

Drifting away - Blues' new midfielder Mark Patterson surges forward in last night's sorry loss at Rochdale

(Right) On the run - Lars Unger attacks Rochdale's midfield

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.