SOUTHEND United’s woeful run of Kenilworth Road results continued with a 2-0 defeat tonight.

An early effort from Elliot Lee and a Danny Hylton penalty handed Luton Town their first win of the season and meant the Shrimpers have still not triumphed at the home of the Hatters since 1964.

Blues have now gone 14 visits and 54 years without a win away at Luton and have also failed to score in the last six of those trips.

Their latest attempt got off to the worst possible start, with Lee adding insult to injury.

The striker joined Blues on loan from West Ham United back in 2014 only to tear his hamstring on his first training session and never make a first team appearance while at Roots Hall.

But Lee returned to haunt the Shrimpers at Kenilworth Road as he latched onto a deflected effort from Pell-Ruddock Mpanzu to fire home from six yards.

The shell-shocked visitors soon hit back and thought they had equalised in the 22nd minute when Elvis Bwomono’s right wing cross was headed home by Tom Hopper, only for the effort to be ruled out for a push by the striker.

The effort was the third goal Hopper has already had disallowed this season and the hosts soon made the most of the let off as Jorge Grant saw a well-struck shot tipped over the crossbar by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

But, with 33 minutes on the clock, Luton did double their lead with Hylton firing home from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was given after referee Trevor Kettle adjudged Bwomono to have brought down Lee in the box and Hylton made the most of the opportunity as he confidently sent his 12 yard shot into the left hand side of the net to put Town 2-0 ahead at the break.

At half-time Shrimpers boss Chris Powell made the first of his changes with Luke Hyam replacing Timothee Dieng in the centre of the park.

But it was still Luton who threatened first with Hylton racing clean through on goal, only for his effort to be well saved by Oxley.

Moments later, ex Shrimpers loanee Glen Rea had a header ruled out for offside before the visitors made a double change in the 61st minute with Theo Robinson replacing Stephen McLaughlin and Shawn McCoulsky coming on for Bwomono.

Shortly after the changes, Jason Demetriou sliced an effort wide of the right post before Simon Cox sent a Robinson cross over the crossbar.

However, Luton were left with gaps to expose going forward and Oxley did well to parry out a well-struck effort from Lee before denying Andrew Shinnie when the midfielder was clean through on goal.

A vital clearance from John White then also stopped the Hatters adding a third and, despite their best efforts, Blues ended a frustrating night without a shot on target as Luton boss Nathan Jones won the battle of the ex Shrimpers left-backs.