MANAGER Richard Hill insisted that Eastleigh "have to move on" ahead of their FA Cup third round replay against Newport County after their defeat to Southend United.

Jack Bridge's second-half penalty saw the Shrimpers leave the Silverlake Stadium with all three points.

The defeat comes just days before Eastleigh's crucial FA Cup replay against League Two Newport on Tuesday evening.

The winner of that game will host Manchester United in the fourth round of the competition.

Following his side's defeat, Hill said his side have to switch their attention to facing the Welsh side in what will be the club's biggest game ever.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, the Spitfires boss said: “We have got to move on.

"We have no choice but to move on. It is a massive football match on Tuesday night. It is the biggest game in the club’s history without a shadow of a doubt.

“The prize money is huge. But let us not forget that it would be a massive prize for Newport. We are both chasing a massive prize."

The winner of Tuesday's game will receive  £105,000 in prize money, with the addition of TV and ticket sale revenue generated from facing Manchester United.

Hill confessed it would be "human nature" for his players to look beyond their National League fixture against Southend.

“It was difficult. It’s been a difficult few days at the football club. I’m glad today is out of the way," he continued.

"People will ask me if I thought the players were looking ahead to Tuesday - we tried not to put them in that situation.

“We haven’t been in that situation as staff. It is only human nature, but the performance was difficult to watch at times. We were not at our best.”

Speaking to Eastleigh's media team he added: “We didn’t get the ball down. We didn’t play with any tempo. We didn’t keep the ball well enough.

“Everything looked like it was hard work. I’ve said it a few times in these scenarios, but the performance today wasn’t where we would like it to be. 

“The team was devalued a little bit when we made the substitutions whereas last week it improved us.”

The Spitfires replaced forward Scott Quigley at the break after he received a knock and was booked during the first half.

Losing a member of their front three, who has scored nine goals this season, did not aid them on an afternoon where things did not click in the final third.

“It can’t click every week in the final third. The chances we created were not what they have been, but you have to give Southend some credit because they stopped us.

“They have stopped our front three. We will have to wait and see on Scott Quigley."

Goalkeeper Joe McDonnell produced some fine saves to ensure the scoreline was kept at a minimum.

He denied Noor Husin within the opening minutes before producing a brilliant double save to prevent Henry Sandat from scoring.

"It's what he is there to do. He is there to make saves like Luke Croll was there to head the ball out of play.

"Joe does what Joe does. I've had to manage the game today with one eye on facing Newport.

"One more foul and Quigley would have been sent off. Chris Maguire was walking the tightrope toward the end.

"It has been difficult this week. We have had training with one eye on Saturday and one eye on Tuesday.

"But I did not lose sight of the fact we had a game on Saturday.

"Even during the game, I've had to make sure this football club has the best opportunity that it can."