SOUTHEND United shrugged aside their injury and illness concerns to ensure it was Port Vale left feeling as sick as a parrot at the final whistle this afternoon.

As many as 11 Blues players were struggling to be fit for the clash at Vale Park.

But Paul Sturrock’s side showed no signs of being patched up as they netted a trio of strikes inside the opening half an hour to record a terrific 3-2 triumph.

Mark Phillips, Liam Dickinson and Ryan Leonard were all on target.

And that made sure Southend brilliantly bounced back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Burton Albion.

Blues’ first goal came after just five minutes when a right wing corner from Lee Sawyer picked out Phillips and the returning centre-back powered a header in to the roof of the net from six yards.

The goal continued the defender’s new found form in front of goal after he also netted in his previous start against Leyton Orient in the Carling Cup.

But, five minutes after Phillips’ latest effort, Southend were celebrating again as they unbelievably doubled their lead when a right wing cross from Leonard struck Kane Ferdinand and rolled invitingly in to the path of Dickinson.

The summer signing then immediately stroked the ball in to the bottom left hand corner of the net with an assured left foot finish from 16 yards.

Blues remained on top and could have made it 3-0 in the 20th minute when an unmarked Ferdinand headed Dickinson’s right wing cross straight at Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson from 12 yards.

However, having survived the scare, Vale worked their way back in to the game by halving Southend’s lead in the 25th minute when Gary Roberts sent Doug Loft through on goal with a long ball down the right hand side.

Loft’s task was made easier by Blues goalkeeper Glenn Morris needlessly rushing off his line and the midfielder simply stabbed the ball in to the back of an unguarded goal from just inside the penalty area.

Vale initially then began to get on top and were enjoying more of the possession but Southend soon restored a two goal cushion in the 29th minute when a deflected long range strike from Leonard squirmed through Tomlinson’s body.

That handed Leonard his first goal in the professional game and Blues maintained their 3-1 lead until the half time break.

It was Leonard who was causing problems again at the start of the second period as his low shot was gathered by Tomlinson at the second attempt.

But Vale, who made two changes during the break with both Lewis Haldane and Ben Williamson entering the action, soon hit back with Tom Pope firing just past the right post from 20 yards.

And, in the 52nd minute, they were back in the game when Dickinson needlessly hauled Gareth Owen to the floor inside the penalty area when the defender was attempting to reach a deep left wing free-kick from Roberts.

Referee Jon Moss immediately pointed to the spot and that enabled Loft to confidently roll the resulting penalty in to the bottom right hand corner of the net with Morris diving in the opposite direction.

Vale now started to pile on the pressure and, with 57 minutes on the clock, Anthony Grant was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card after he was penalised for a late challenge on Haldane.

The home-side remained territorially on top but, in the 61st minute, Blues broke away to ease the pressure they were under with Neil Harris sending a 20 yard shot over the crossbar with his left foot.

Moments later, Harris also headed over a right wing cross from Leonard before the former Millwall forward found himself alongside a new strike partner in the 76th minute as Bilel Mohsni replaced the injured Dickinson in attack.

Ryan Hall then came on as well for a tiring Leonard and Southend dug in to see out the closing minutes as they moved back in to the play-off places.