SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown toasted the Shrimpers’ supporters following his side’s impressive 2-0 win at Oxford United.

Second half headers from Marc-Antoine Fortune and Theo Robinson secured Blues all three points at the Kassam Stadium.

And Brown was keen to share the moment with the 472 travelling supporters.

“I would love to buy every Southend punter here a pint if I could,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“I didn’t think the fans would turn up after Saturday when the 1-0 defeat at Millwall deflated everyone.

“It could have been our bubble bursting but we’ve had to blow another one up and we have done.

“The changing room was absolutely bouncing at the end of the game because this is a difficult place to come to.

“They normally see off their opposition at home with the crowd right behind them so it’s a really good win.”

However, Blues were made to work hard for the win and were forced to survive a sustained spell of early pressure which saw Oxford pushing hard for the opening goal of the game.

And Brown admitted his side were well below their best in the first half an hour of the game.

“In the first 30 to 35 minutes were just weren’t at the races,” said the 57-year-old.

“Maybe it was because we only made the one enforced change but I don’t think Michael (Appleton) made any changes so there were no excuses.

“We were just playing the wrong way and got sucked into the surface.

“We thought it would be a good pitch to play football on but it wasn’t, it was a bit lively.

“The way to play was to get in behind and that’s what we started to do after the 35th minute.

“We had to learn the play the conditions and that’s what we did.

“But I always thought the first goal would be vital and it was.”

The goal, scored by the in-form Fortune, came after a tactical alteration which saw Michael Timlin and Jermaine McGlashan swap wings.

And Brown felt the change made a big difference to the outcome of the game.

“I thought it was vital,” said Brown.

“We felt their left back was more influential than the right back which is why we put McGlashan on this side to try and get back him.

“But we switched them across and Michael did the job in there that Will Atkinson normally does.

“It worked for us and got us foothold in the game.

“But before that we just weren’t anywhere near it and we had to ride our luck.”