Mansfield Town: Paul Cox says things must change

Cox's Mansfield were eighth and only outside the League Two play-off places on goal difference after nine games of the season

Manager Paul Cox has indicated he may bring in new faces to halt Mansfield Town's slide down League Two in the wake of their 2-1 loss to Southend.

The Stags have dropped to 18th after a seven-game winless run and Cox has questioned the team's commitment.

"The character and desire and the way we applied ourselves for 70 minutes on Saturday won't be tolerated," 42-year-old Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"There might be some coming in and some going out."

Mansfield had drawn their previous four games before losing to Southend, but their last league win came on 20 September against Carlisle United.

Cox, who has been in charge since May 2011, said: "I am all for evolving but we must be good at what we do. Southend dominated us and bullied us and that doesn't happen to my sides. We need to be fit, strong and mentally tough - and then play.

"We can't turn up after 75 minutes and try to win a football match. We had great chances at the end to get something from the game but I would have been embarrassed.

"I will go with my sixth sense. I am going to have be ruthless and hard on people at this football club."

Cox said a lengthy injury list - which includes strikers Liam Hearn, Alex Fisher and saw nine first-team players sidelined for the recent game against York - had not helped their cause

"It's been frustrating because we have had so many people on the treatment table but we have got some players coming back," Cox added.

"This league is tough and if we don't wake up - and I don't wake up - then we are not doing our jobs properly."