SECOND half headers from Tom Hopper and Simon Cox handed Southend United a well-deserved 2-0 win against Bradford City at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The strikers both netted in a decisive five minute spell as Chris Powell’s side deservedly recorded their first victory of the season.

Blues again began the contest brightly with Ben Coker curling a free-kick straight at Bradford goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell before Stephen McLaughlin sent a well struck shot wide of the right post from long range.

After surviving the scares, Bantams striker Eoin Doyle soon had a well struck effort tipped wide of the target by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley before the hosts immediately got back on top with Michael Kightly having a powerful effort tipped over by O’Donnell.

Moments later, Jason Demetriou stabbed the ball wide of the right post after swapping passes with Tom Hopper before Sam Mantom’s 20 yard chip went just over the crossbar.

With Blues remaining on top, McLaughlin headed Timothee Dieng’s left wing cross over the crossbar before the Shrimpers came even closer to scoring at the start of the second half when John White’s left footed volley was tipped onto the top of the crossbar by O’Donnell.

But, with 52 minutes on the clock, Blues finally made the breakthrough with Hopper on target for the second time this season.

The summer signing was picked out by a fine left wing cross from Kightly and sent a firm downward header into the bottom left hand corner of the net from eight yards.

Four minutes later, the Shrimpers doubled their lead following another fine move down the left hand side.

This time Kightly played the ball into the path of the over-lapping Coker whose fine cross was headed home by Cox.

The Shrimpers soon came close to extending their lead when Cox sent a chip against the crossbar before the striker made way for Theo Robinson as Blues boss Chris Powell made his first change of the afternoon in the 76th minute.

However, shortly after the change, Bradford almost got back in to the game when Jordan Gibson went through on goal, only to be stopped in his tracks by Mark Oxley before the Shrimpers scrambled the ball to safety to preserve their first clean sheet of the campaign.