Ebbsfleet boss Josh Wright warned his players they’re playing for their futures after a Boxing Day defeat at Southend.

Low on confidence and with just one win to their name this season, there was a sense of inevitability after the Fleet conceded a second goal on the stroke of half-time on their way to a 4-0 National League loss at Roots Hall.

“The bottom line is it’s not good enough,” stated Wright. “We were second-best all over the park, all the basics in what you need in a side. It’s difficult to put into words. It shows you what we are and where we’re at, at the moment.

“We’re 1-0 (down) just before half-time with 30 seconds to go, you get in 1-0 compared to 2-0 and it’s a completely different ball game. That’s the sucker punch but that’s what I’ve got at the moment.

“I’ve got so much time for the boys and I know their ability. I’m lacking characters, I’m lacking men. I’m trying to pick teams that will win football games and the manner of the goals we’re conceding are far from good enough.

“People need to look at themselves. It’s very frustrating as I’m trying to tell them in football it can be very damaging in terms of the inevitable outcomes and where it leaves you as a player, next contract, your family and protection in life. You’re always playing for your next contract, especially at this level.

“The route we’re going down is far from good enough. I understand momentum and I talk about it all the time, and belief and confidence. We’re coming up against teams with a lot more of that in most weeks.

“We played against a Southend club who weren’t flying with momentum and we made it too easy for them.

“I inherited this group, they were my team-mates and now they’re my players. I know what they’re about and I know they’re capable.

“We’re very vulnerable and I have to patch it up, put concrete round it. We need to find a winning formula and start winning games. The quicker we start winning games and picking points up, the quicker the boys will start believing and the confidence will come to them.

“When you’re a little bit tentative, you don’t know whether to stick or twist and in the end you make the wrong decisions and you’re a yard off it. That’s a big problem but you can only work on it in training.

“I’m looking at their running stats, there’s no hiding place anymore, and it’s not through a lack of effort. It’s just all those other things. They’re trying but they can’t produce it at the moment.”

Ebbsfleet lost defender to Lewis Page to injury in the first 20 minutes at Southend.

Page has only just come back from a lengthy lay-off but Wright is hoping he’s come off early enough.

“Lewis has come back from a long-term injury and he looked solid last week, even on Boxing Day in the opening 10-15 minutes,” said Wright.

“I think he’s just felt something in a muscle so there was no risk taken. We’ll assess it, hopefully we’ve caught it early enough but I’ll leave that to the right people to let me know.”

Read more: Southend 4-0 Ebbsfleet match report

Once again, the Fleet were indebted to the performance of goalkeeper Mark Cousins.

Despite conceding four goals, Cousins still produced a number of excellent saves against Southend.

“They’re the people that you want,” said Wright. “I know Couso, as soon as I took the job I knew he was going to be my number one.

“He pulled off some fantastic saves, let’s not beat around the bush, he’s done that in all three games so far.

“He’s done that throughout his career and ever since I’ve been at Ebbsfleet. He’s one of, if not the, most consistent performers at this club since I’ve been here.

“He’s a proper person, a proper pro, zero moaning, gets his head down and cracks on. Always on time, always giving extra and he’s the type of person I need in the changing room.”