SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Mark Oxley does not to see the Shrimpers sulking after enduring a sloppy start to the season.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Carlisle United was Blues’ fourth in succession.

But Oxley – who has skippered the side in the opening two League games - is demanding the right kind of response as Mark Molesley’s side look to turn things around.

“We’ve all got to improve and we need to do it quickly because the games are coming thick and fast,” said Oxley.

“We can’t be moping about and we have to take it on the chin and get on with it.

“We have a whole week to prepare for the Morecambe game now and hopefully we can start moving in the right direction.”

The bottom of the table Blues headed to Brunton Park just days after the club were given a six week extension to pay off an outstanding debt of close to £500,000 to HMRC.

But Oxley does not feel the off the field problems have any impact on the team.

“You can use it as an excuse if you want to but our mentality is what happens off the pitch isn’t anything to do with us,” said the 29-year-old.

“We’re professional footballers and we need to do our speaking on the pitch.”

And Oxley also feels new Shrimpers boss Mark Molesley will be able to get the season back on track.

“We have a manager who believes in us and has us trying to play the right way,” said Oxley.

“He has been a breath of fresh air and it’s up to us to show how much we believe in him and want to play for hum.

“There’s definitely been an improvement in the mentality from last season but at the end of the day it’s results that count and we need to be a bit more savvy.”

But Blues still have senior players to come back from injury and Oxley feels that will make a difference.

“There are people on the treatment table who would probably be in the team but there are good young boys out there and it’s up to them to take their chance,” added Oxley.

“We’re a young group but we have to learn quickly and there’s room for improvement everywhere.

“But hopefully when some of the older boys come back there will be more competition for places and we’ll start to move upwards.”

However, for that to happen the Shrimpers will need to improve on Saturday’s showing at Carlisle.

“I thought we started well and we were a bit unlucky with their first goal from a deflection,” said Oxley.

“But we spoke in there about being relentless and we have to react to their goal.

“Maybe we went off what we were doing for the first part of the game and their second killed it a bit.

“At half-time we said if they’ve scored two goals why can’t we and we gave it a go but when a few start to come back we will have more competition for places.”

Oxley stopped Blues suffering a far heavier defeat against the Cumbrians after producing a trio of fine saves.

But the shot-stopper took little satisfaction from the game.

“We still conceded two goals and I’d only be happy with a clean sheet or a win,” said Oxley.

“We have to learn from our mistakes, take it on the chin and move forward.”