A WOEFUL first half performance saw Southend United slump to a 2-0 defeat at Luton Town this afternoon.

Blues were well below par in the opening 45 minutes.

And goals from Alex Lawless and Mark Cullen ensured the Shrimpers have still not won at Kenilworth Garden since 1964.

Luton went in front after 17 minutes when Scott Griffiths charged down the left hand side before teeing up Lawless.

The winger then cut inside and curled home an impressive right footed shot from just inside the penalty area.

The Hatters then doubled their lead in the 34th minute, following a mistake from Shrimpers defender Cian Bolger.

The Irish centre-back misplaced a pass in to the path of Adam Drury who immediately sent Cullen clean through on goal and he made no mistake with an assured low finish.

Bolger, who suffered a nasty head wound early on, was eventually forced to come off just before the break with Ryan Leonard taking his place.

Leonard lined up at right back with John White switching to the centre of the defence alongside Adam Thompson.

Two further changes were made at the break with Barry Corr replacing Shaq Coulthirst and Jack Payne coming on for Will Atkinson.

The Shrimpers started the second period brightly with Payne and Leonard both sending half chances wide of the target.

But Luton were able to deal with that spell of pressure and, in the 69th minute, the attention switched to the sidelines with Southend’s assistant manager Dave Penney clashing with Hatters striker Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Penney appeared to push the former West Ham United front man as they tussled for the ball and was sent to the stands by referee Chris Kavanagh.

After that the game fizzled out as the Shrimpers sunk to a second successive defeat.