Southend manager Paul Sturrock has blasted his side after their loss against Aldershot on Tuesday.

The Shrimpers boss has laid down the law to his players and is widely expected to drop a number of his underperforming charges this weekend.

The Essex club, who have been on top in League Two for large parts of the season, have suffered a drastic loss in form, losing four of their last seven.

Sturrock vented his frustration to BBC Radio Essex, saying: “At the end of the day we can’t tolerate it any longer.

"We're back to the Rotherham debacle. This team needs a freshness as far as personnel is concerned. Too many of the players have let themselves down again.”

Midfielder Michael Timlin has already publicly apologized for the poor performance.

It’s not the first time the players have been chastised this season. Sturrock read the riot act when his side surrendered a two-goal lead at Plymouth earlier this month.

The Blues travel to Morecambe this weekend in search of a win that could take the top of the table again. They are 7/5 with Coral and Ladbrokes to defeat the Shrimps, while they are 14/1 with 188Bet and Paddy Power to take the title.