Tilson has overseen two promotion campaigns for Southend (Getty)

Southend United manager Steve Tilson has called on his side to keep up their form even though they have already reached the League One play-offs.

The Blues secured their spot with a 2-1 win at Carlisle on Saturday and have lost just once in 17 matches.

Tilson told BBC Essex: "We're in there now but we've got to keep working hard to get to the end of the season and then concentrate on the play-offs."

The Essex side still retain an outside chance of an automatic promotion place.

There's going to be three big sides in there so it's going to be a tough ask Steve Tilson

Tilson has already masterminded one successful play-off campaign with the club, when they won promotion from League Two in 2004/05.

He admits they face a big challenge to emulate that feat this season.

"It would be lovely," he said. "But apart from ourselves there's going to be three big sides in there so it's going to be a tough ask, but we'll give it our best shot."