SOUTHEND United’s push for the play-offs was dented by a shock 2-1 defeat at home to MK Dons this afternoon.

The Shrimpers had been hoping to move into the top six with another win at Roots Hall.

But two goals in the space of nine minutes at the start of the second half saw Phil Brown’s side suffer a third defeat in four games despite a stoppage time penalty from Simon Cox.

Blues came into the clash off the back of a comprehensive 4-0 win at Chesterfield and threatened early on with Cox dragging a low shot wide of the left post after being teed up by a fine through ball from Will Atkinson.

Moments later, the returning Ryan Leonard sent a long range shot wide of the same upright before the visitors hit back with former Blues midfielder Stuart O’Keefe heading straight at the Shrimpers on loan goalkeeper Christian Walton from close range.

The visitors soon threatened again with Kieran Agard sending a well struck 20 yard shot over the crossbar before Blues replied with Leonard having a low, long range shot parried to safety by Dons goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.

With the Shrimpers continuing to push forward, Jason Demetriou then sent a deflected effort flashing wide of the left post before play switched back to the other end of the field with Ed Upson heading Reeves’ left wing cross inches past the right post.

In reply a relieved Blues side then came close to taking the lead when Cox headed a fantastic right wing cross from Demetriou wide of the left post before the striker send a low range effort past the opposite upright.

However, the Dons replied on the stroke of half-time when a poor backpass from Anton Ferdinand created a fine opportunity which resulted in Harvey Barnes having an effort cleared off the goal-line by a sliding Demetriou.

Dons were not to be denied for long though and the visitors broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, with Joe Walsh heading them in front.

The centre-back was picked out by a right wing corner from Reeves and scored with a firm downward header which Walton could only palm into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The Shrimpers came close to netting an immediate equaliser when a 25 yard free-kick from Anthony Wordsworth struck the outside of the left post before Adam Thompson just failed to reach a left wing cross from McLaughlin with the goal gaping.

However, after surviving the scares, Dons hit back with Reeves having a goalbound effort brilliantly blocked by Leonard.

Blues boss Brown responded by making a double change in the 58th minute as Theo Robinson and Jermaine McGlashan entered the action in place of McLaughlin and Atkinson.

But, four minutes after the alterations, Dons doubled their lead as Reeves returned to his haunt his former team.

The midfielder – who was on loan with Blues in 2013 – reacted sharply after Agard’s shot was parried out by Walton and netted with a clinical effort into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 12 yards.

The Dons remained on top with Walton doing well to deny both Agard and Barnes before Blues boss Brown made his final change in the 75th minute as Marc-Antoine Fortune replaced Nile Ranger in attack.

Moments after the third change, Southend skipper Anton Ferdinand sent Wordsworth’s cross against the foot of the left post before Cox fired home a stoppage time penalty after Fortune had been fouled by George Baldock.