BLUES boss Phil Brown felt Ryan Leonard's stunning strike on the stroke of half-time was the key moment in his side's 3-1 win at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

Leonard lashed home an impressive long range volley to put the Shrimpers back in front just before the break.

And Brown insisted the effort was crucial in Southend grabbing a vital victory at Victoria Road.

“It was a well earned win and it was well deserved too but I think the timing of the second goal was the key to it all if I'm honest,” said the Blues boss.

“It put us ahead just before half-time and it was a great goal too.

“We've been working with Lenny and him hitting the target to make the goalkeeper work.

“But he didn't actually do that with the shot, he just worked the net instead which was great to see.”

Either side of Leonard's excellent effort were goals from strikers Joe Pigott and Barry Corr, who fired home a second half penalty.

And Brown believes Blues are shaping up nicely for the remaining 10 matches of the League Two season.

“We have the third or fourth best defensive record in the division and we have two strikers who are really in form as well,” said Brown.

“Barry showed a bit of bottle to step up and take that penalty in front of our fans and he's scored eight goals in his last eight starts now.

“Joe took his goal well too and he's got six goals in 12 games since coming in so that's a recipe for success and it also bodes well for the matches we have coming up, none more so than the massive one at Burton on Wednesday night.”

But Blues will take on the Brewers in good spirits and with their number one goalkeeper Daniel Bentley between the sticks after he recovered from a groin injury at Dagenham.

Bentley confirmed his return to full fitness with a superb late save to stop substitute Jodi Jones scoring.

However, Brown revealed the shot-stopper was still not satisfied at the end of the game.

“Dan wasn't happy because he hadn't kept a clean sheet,” said Brown.

“We gave away a sloppy goal from a free-kick due to a bit of detail I should've dealt with, not the players.

“But right at the end Dan pulled off an unbelievable save to keep it at 3-1.”