SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock was thrilled to get back to winning ways at Roots Hall with a 3-0 victory over Stockport County on Saturday.

Blues had triumphed just once in their previous five home games.

And Sturrock was delighted to bring that wretched record to an end with victory in the first round of the FA Cup.

“Making sure we won the game at home was all that mattered, so I’m very pleased,” said Sturrock.

“Our last few games at Roots Hall had been frustrating and quite disappointing, so it’s nice to have got a 3-0 win and hopefully we can get a few more good results now.

"But this was a good win because Stockport are a strong side and they made it very tough for us until we got a couple of late goals at the end."

However, it was the fit-again Barry Corr who got the scoring underway with a clinical close-range header in the first half.

And Sturrock was pleased to see the Irishman get on the score-sheet on his return to the starting line-up.

“It was a real gamble playing Barry from the start because he hasn’t played much football lately, but he did well and I’m delighted for him,” said Sturrock.

“He brings something different to the team and it’s great to have him back playing.

He wasn’t the only one though because Mark Phillips and Michael Timlin also played after recovering from injuries, and I thought Tims showed exactly why we miss him when he doesn’t play.”

Timlin had a hand in Blues’ first two goals against the Hatters before Eastwood completed the scoring with an excellent individual effort, which also surprised Sturrock after he originally expected the striker to miss the game with a back problem he sustained getting out of a chair.

“Freddy could hardly move on Thursday and there seemed no way he was going to be able to play,” said Sturrock.

“But it must have been an act of God or something because he could suddenly move freely again and he took his goal very well.”

Blues will now be bidding for more of the same at Bristol Rovers tomorrow night and Sturrock is expecting a difficult night against the Pirates.

“It’s not a happy hunting ground for us and they’re a tough team to play,” said Sturrock.

“We have Britt Assombalonga and Tamika Mkandawire to come in, but we will be missing Luke Prosser and I doubt Barry Corr will be able to play again so soon either, so changes will have to be made.”