SOMEBODY clearly forgot to tell Port Vale that it was no longer time to be giving out gifts when they arrived at Southend United this afternoon.

Vale allowed Mark Phillips and Liam Dickinson to both bag first half headers before visiting defender Gareth Owen scored a shocking own goal to complete a comfortable 3-0 win for Blues.

Vale also had defender Clayton McDonald sent off for two bookable offences midway through the second half as Paul Sturrock's side cruised back up to second in the League Two table.

But, even with 11 players, the visitors never looked like troubling their hosts at Roots Hall.

And it took just eight minutes for Blues to break the deadlock, with Phillips scoring his eighth goal of the season.

The centre-back rose completely unchallenged just six yards from goal and headed a right wing corner from Ryan Hall in to the left hand side of the goal.

Moments later, Elliot Benyon cut in from the left hand side of the penalty area and unleashed a well struck shot which flew just inches past the far post and, with Blues remaining on top, Michael Timlin then also fired wide of the target from long range.

Hall then saw Vale goalkeeper Chris Martin smartly smother his low, deflected shot from 25 yards and, in the 23rd minute, the winger had a similar effort fly just wide of the left post.

However, Hall then again turned provider to help Blues double their lead as he delivered a fine right wing cross to the back post where Dickinson was on hand to head the ball in to the bottom right hand corner of the net from eight yards.

It was deja vu for Dickinson as he had also followed Phillips on to the score-sheet to make it 2-0 away against the Valiants in August.

But Blues then almost made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute, following a fantastic piece of skill by Hall.

The winger brilliantly tricked his way past Owen but his well struck, left footed shot was fantastically saved low down to his left hand side by Martin before the ball was scrambled to safety by Lee Collins.

With Southend continuing to push forward, a long range shot from left-back Peter Gilbert was easily kept out by Martin but, on the stroke of half time, Vale hit back with Sean Rigg firing straight at Morris from 30 yards.

At the start of the second period, the visitors’ Louis Dodds had an effort tipped around his near post by Morris.

But, in the 55th minute, Blues made it 3-0 in comical circumstances as Owen volleyed the ball in to his own goal.

The defender was under no pressure whatsoever when Gilbert delivered a deep cross from the left flank but he embarrassingly converted past a stunned Martin from six yards.

Southend then almost extended their advantage even further on the hour mark when a quickly taken Timlin free-kick sent debutant David Martin through in the left hand side of the penalty area.

However, the winger could only send a 12 yard shot wide of the left post before things got even worse for Vale when they were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute when McDonald was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon.

The defender, who received his first booking for a foul on Dickinson in the first half, was dismissed by referee Brendan Malone after bringing down Elliot Benyon.

Blues attempted to make the most of their extra man with Benyon teeing up Hall whose shot was palmed to safety to Martin.

But, by that stage Southend had already made the most of Vale's generosity as they cruised through the final stages to record their first double of the season.