SOUTHEND United secured back to back wins for the first time since February with an impressive 3-0 victory against Bradford City at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Inspired Shrimpers midfielder Will Atkinson bagged a brace against his former side before Bantams skipper Romain Vincelot scored an own goal late on to complete a fine afternoon for Phil Brown’s side.

Southend have now gone six League One games without defeat and they came close to going in front after just six minutes when Anthony Wordsworth’s left wing corner picked out Nile Ranger whose header appeared to be tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Colin Doyle despite a goal-kick being given.

Moments later, Ranger sent a left footed shot over the crossbar from a promising position before Bradford hit back with James Hanson heading Mark Marshall’s right wing cross inches wide of the right post.

But, after surviving the scare, the Shrimpers hit back to break the deadlock in the 14th minute, with Atkinson on target.

The on-rushing midfielder was picked out by an intelligently timed pass from Simon Cox and stroked a calm, right footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

Bradford came close to equalising in the 25th minute when Hanson’s header from Marshall’s right wing free-kick smacked the crossbar before Blues hit back with Wordsworth having a 20 yard free-kick parried to safety by City goalkeeper Colin Doyle.

However, with 35 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers were forced into making their first change of the afternoon as Ben Coker limped off injured and was replaced at left-back by Michael Timlin.

Following the alteration, Wordsworth sent a well struck half volleyed effort inches over the crossbar before the midfielder saw a 20 yard shot well saved by Doyle low down to his left hand side.

After the break, Marshall saw a well struck shot gathered by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley at the second attempt before centre-back Nathaniel Knight-Percival saw a header nodded off the line by Jason Demetriou.

The visitors continued to enjoy more of the ball and, in a bid to get his side going again, Blues boss Phil Brown made his second substitution of the game in the 69th minute with Marc-Antoine Fortune coming on to replace Cox in attack.

And, just three minutes after the change, the Shrimpers doubled their lead with Atkinson again on target.

The midfielder latched on to the ball in the right hand side of the penalty area and drilled an excellent low, right footed shot into bottom right hand corner of the net.

Atkinson then came close to completing a hat-trick when his goalbound effort was cleared away from target by James Meredith before the visitors hit back with Marshall having a powerful effort saved by Oxley with Hanson heading the rebound wide.

But Blues were not to be denied a third goal and four minutes from time Vincelot fired Fortune’s right wing cross past his own goalkeeper.