SOUTHEND United’s 14 match unbeaten run came to an end with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Burton Albion this afternoon.

Blues conceded twice inside the opening 36 minutes at the Pirelli Stadium.

And, despite the Brewers having defender Nathan Stanton sent off 14 minutes from time, they held on to record a hard fought win.

Burton began the brighter of the two sides and, with eight minutes on the clock, they came close to opening the scoring when Calvin Zola shook off Luke Prosser to tee up Billy Kee, but the striker could only send a close range shot straight at Blues goalkeeper Paul Smith.

But the Brewers went ahead in the 16th minute, with Zola on for the 11th time this season.

The striker was picked out by a fine right wing cross from Lee Bell and escaped the attentions of Ryan Cresswell to stab a low shot in to the back of the net from six yards.

Albion soon came close to increasing their lead when a skimming 20 yard shot from Kee was parried to safety by Smith but Blues almost levelled in the 26th minute when a scuffed shot from Gavin Tomlin was tipped around the left post by Burton goalkeeper Dean Lyness.

Moments later, Tamika Mkandawire fired inches off target from 20 yards after being teed up by Tomlin but, after surviving the scares, Burton responded by doubling their lead in the 36th minute.

Zola and Kee exchanged passes in the build up before teeing up Bell whose well struck 25 yard shot appeared to be heading wide of the right post until it struck Chris Barker and flew past a bamboozled Smith.

Blues attempted to get back in to the game with Kevan Hurst shooting just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area and they stayed on top at the start of the second half, with Michael Timlin having a deflected 20 yard free-kick smothered low down to his left hand side by Lyness.

But, in a bid to improve his side, Blues boss Paul Sturrock made a double substitution in the 68th minute with Mark Phillips and David Martin entering the action in place of Mkandawire and Barry Corr.

The changes saw Cresswell pushed in a striking position but it was referee Gary Sutton who soon took centre stage, dismissing Brewers defender Stanton in the 76th minute for his second bookable offence.

The centre-back’s second caution came after his raise his hands towards Prosser inside the penalty area as they waited for a Hurst free kick to be taken.

Prosser was also booked for his part in the altercation and, attempting to capatilise on their extra man, Blues soon made their final change of the afternoon with Freddy Eastwood coming on to replace Marc Laird.

After the alteration, Blues wasted a huge chance to get back in to the game as Cresswell squared a pass in to the path of Martin who scuffed a poor seven yard shot wide of the left post with his right foot.

And that proved to be Southend’s last opportunity as they sunk to their first defeat since October.