Southend boss Steve Tilson tipped the Canaries for automatic promotion after their 3-0 victory at Roots Hall last night. Tilson admitted the quality of City's finishing was the difference between the two sides.

Southend boss Steve Tilson tipped the Canaries for automatic promotion after their 3-0 victory at Roots Hall last night.

Tilson admitted the quality of City's finishing was the difference between the two sides.

The Shrimpers manager felt his team matched their opponents for long periods of the game before two goals in the space of nine minutes, from Grant Holt and Korey Smith, effectively settled the issue.

"The difference tonight was Norwich's finishing," said Tilson.

"Norwich are a good side and play good football and, for me, they will finish in the top two this season.

"But I thought we matched them and worked tirelessly for 90 minutes.

"Unfortunately, that bit of quality through a 10-minute spell in the second half has killed us.

"We had our chances and on another night we may have got something, but it wasn't to be."

Tilson queried referee Phil Crossley's decision to disallow a goal by new loan signing Jabo Ibehre when the score was 2-0 - and to award a penalty against Alan McCormack for bringing down City's Luke Daley, enabling Holt to make it 3-0 in stoppage time.

"The referee couldn't see through the bodies when Jabo had a goal disallowed. The linesman is the only one and I don't think he did," said Tilson. "Macca then said he got the ball for the late penalty, but I don't know. We had to be at our best to get anything and unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

"In the first half Jabo forced their goalkeeper into making a fantastic save and Barney (Lee Barnard) went on to flash a header wide, but we now have to move on to Charlton away on Saturday."