SECOND-HALF goals from Barry Corr and Shaq Coulthirst got Southend United back to winning ways with a 2-0 triumph against Portsmouth at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers went in to the game without a victory in their last five games.

But they got their season back on track with a hard fought win in a game which was slow to get started.

In an uneventful first half, Danny Hollands’ early poked effort was easily collected by Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

But the Shrimpers soon hit back with debutant Jerome Binnom-Williams having a firm header from Kevan Hurst’s ring wing corner parried to safety by Portsmouth goalkeeper Paul Jones.

At the start of the second half, his opposite number – Bentley – was again called in to action when he blocked a well struck shot from Miles Storey at his near post.

In reply, Jack Payne soon had an acrobatic volley from Myles Weston’s left wing cross smothered by Jones.

However, with 56 minutes on the clock, Southend went in front when Kevan Hurst’s left wing corner rebounded in to the path of Corr at the near post and he made no mistake with a close range header.

In a bid to stay in front, Blues boss Phil Brown introduced both David Worrall and Will Atkinson in to the midfield mid-way through the second half.

But it was another substitute, Coulthirst, who sealed the match in Southend’s favour.

The on loan Tottenham Hotspur striker was picked out by Worrall just 10 yards inside Portsmouth’s half before he charged forward and stroked a low, left footed finish in to the bottom right hand corner of the net.