SOUTHEND United ended their nine match winless streak with a convincing 4-2 triumph at 10 man Fleetwood Town this afternoon.

Goals from Simon Cox, Stephen McLaughlin, Nile Ranger and Jermaine McGlashan saw Blues secure their first ever win at the Highbury Stadium.

And the win came after the Shrimpers were able to make the most of their numerical advantage following a red card to Fleetwood’s Aiden O’Neill after just 31 minutes.

Blues got off the best of starts when they broke the deadlock after just two minutes when McLaughlin’s inswinging free-kick from the right hand side was headed into the bottom right hand corner of the net by Cox.

However, the Shrimpers were in front for little more than a minute as Bobby Grant’s long ball forward was missed by the Southend back four and enabled Amari’i Bell to nip in ahead of Mark Oxley to head home.

Blues came close to regaining the lead in the 27th minute when a clever McLaughlin free-kick found Cox whose low effort was cleared off the line by Markus Schwabl.

But, four minutes later, the Shrimpers were handed the initiative when Fleetwood midfielder O’Neill was sent off for bringing down Ryan Leonard when he was running clean through on goal.

Blues stayed on top after O’Neill’s dismissal and regained the lead in the 40th minute when some fine, one touch passing resulted in McLaughlin darting in to score with a clinical low shot from 12 yards.

And, just before the break, the Shrimpers extended their lead with Ranger on target from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was given after Ranger was brought down in the box and the striker grabbed the ball himself before firing it into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Fleetwood hit back at the start of the second half with Bobby Grant having a well struck shot impressively pushed away by Oxley.

In reply, McLaughlin fired over a low pass from debutant Josh Wright before he made way for McGlashan in Blues’ first change of the game.

Marc-Antoine Fortune then also replaced Ranger in attack before Southend came close to extending their lead with Jason Demetriou having an ambitious 30 yard chip tipped over by Cairns.

But, with 87 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers made it 4-1 when fine play from Fortune resulted in McGlashan netting with a well struck shot which flew in via the inside of the left post.

However, there was still time for Fleetwood to bag a late consolation goal as Ashley Hunter’s right wing cross was diverted towards his own goal by Harry Kyprianou enabling Devante Cole to score from close range.