SOUTHEND United silenced the Pompey chimes and some of their critics with a well deserved 2-0 win at Roots Hall on Saturday.

Second half goals from Barry Corr and substitute Shaq Coulthirst secured all three points for the Shrimpers.

And it was finally being able to finish in front of goal which enabled Phil Brown’s side to get back to winning ways.

Blues headed in to the game without a victory in their last five games and a failure to convert clear cut chances had been the main reason behind the poor run of results.

Performances, aside from the second half against Oxford United last weekend, had been of a reasonable standard.

But not being able to turn possession and pressure into points had promised to become something of a problem for the Shrimpers.

However, that was not the case against Portsmouth on Saturday as Blues found a clinical, cutting edge which had previously been missing from their play.

As a result, Corr popped up to head Southend in front with his first goal of the season and that will have done wonders for the influential Irishman’s confidence.

Given the right kind of service and system, Corr is a big threat at this level and he is now just two strikes away from becoming the 19th striker to have ever bagged 50 goals for Blues.

His latest effort also came from a set-piece, an area where the Shrimpers have failed to pose problems for quite some-time.

But on Saturday, with Kevan Hurst delivering the ball in to the box with pace, Blues suddenly looked a threat with Corr, Adam Thompson and new boy Jerome Binnom-Williams all looking threatening.

Corr’s strike was just the third Southend had scored from a crossed set piece delivery in their last 27 outings.

And that new found promise must be maintained in order for Blues to challenge and secure more cheap goals.

However, while scoring for the Shrimpers is nothing new for Corr, Coulthirst’s effort was his first since signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the season.

Coulthirst had previously been luckless in front of goal, seeing goalkeepers pulling off fine saves, having efforts cleared off the line and snatching at some other opportunities.

But, after coming off the bench at the weekend, Coulthirst showed new found composure to seal Southend’s win and the on loan Tottengham Hotspur youngster will now be hoping that can be a sign of things to come.

And another teenager on loan from a London Premier League club, left-back Binnom-Williams, will also be looking to build on his impressive antics on Saturday.

Losing the consistent Ben Coker to a long term elbow injury had been a huge blow to Blues.

But the early impressions from Binnom-Williams were excellent at the weekend as he surged forward whenever possible and also looked extremely comfortable on the ball.

In midfield, another recent signing Gary Deegan played a pivotal part in the Shrimpers coming out on top.

The midfielder was surprisingly given the nod over Conor Clifford who can consider himself unfortunate to be selected among the substitutes.

However, Deegan caught the eye with an incredibly aggressive and influential display which saw him constantly in the faces of the opposition.

He will now be hoping to nail down a starting slot in the most competitive area of the Southend side and the Shrimpers will also be looking to impress more consistently.

For Blues have the quality and the credentials to be up towards the top of the League Two table this term.

And if Saturday’s more clinical cutting edge can be maintained then Phil Brown’s side will be a serious threat throughout the remainder of the season.