IN-FORM Southend United midfielder Anthony Wordsworth is revelling in being pain free right now – and so too were the Shrimpers’ travelling supporters at MK Dons on Saturday.

Watching Blues on their travels this term has often been a torturous experience.

But that was certainly not the case at the weekend as Wordsworth bagged a brace to help Phil Brown’s side record an impressive 3-0 victory.

The win was Southend’s first away from home since seeing off Sheffield United in mid-August.

And the triumph came after a hard fought 1-1 draw at Bradford City and a 1-0 win at home to Chesterfield to continue an upturn in Blues’ fortunes.

Seven points have now been collected from the last nine on offer and everyone connected with Southend is now suddenly starting to look up the League One table rather than down.

Saturday’s triumph was certainly the most enjoyable in quite some time.

And a variety of factors have played a part in Blues getting themselves back on track.

Wordsworth has played a prominent part in the recent revival and has now netted more goals in the last seven games than he did in the whole of last season.

The midfielder – who has hit the back of the net five times already this term – finally seems to have shaken off a long-term hamstring problem and is now starting to shine on a regular basis.

His eye-catching display on Saturday was up there with the best Blues have seen in recent seasons.

And, although Jack Payne remains a huge loss for the Shrimpers, it could be that his decision to join Huddersfield Town at the end of last season has now given Wordsworth far more freedom to get forward and show off his own creative qualities.

Wordsworth bagged just four goals in 27 appearances last term but is now relishing the opportunity to play his natural game, with the fitness to back it up too.

However, it was not just Wordsworth who impressed against MK Dons as goalkeeper Mark Oxley also produced his best performance since signing for the Shrimpers in the summer.

Oxley has endured an inconsistent start to the current campaign but he has looked far more assured in recent weeks and made a stunning double save to help Blues triumph at the weekend.

Oxley and those around him are also being helped by a settled shape and starting line-up which has resulted in Southend appearing to be far more organised and much tougher to break down.

Those qualities – along with an impressive work-rate – have been the main reasons behind Blues’ success in the last couple of seasons – and that style of play now seems to have returned.

But, perhaps most pleasingly of all, that is finally being combined with far more of a goalscoring threat.

Far too often in the past the Shrimpers have struggled to create or convert clear cut chances in front of goal but that has not been the case in the last few outings.

And, with that in mind, Simon Cox’s goal was another big boost on Saturday.

The experienced striker has started the last three games having previously failed to hold down a regular role in attack.

But his early effort - which was his first since August - will have done wonders for his confidence and the frontman will now be looking to impress more regularly.  So too will the Shrimpers but it remains important to not get too carried away.

Three promising games in quick succession are not to make a season and, with MK Dons having not won at home since early March, much tougher tests are likely to lay in store.

But, after the recent trials and tribulations away from home, Saturday’s pain free success was a very welcome and enjoyable relief for Southend and their travelling fans.