Southend United 0, Scunthorpe United 1

Iron striker Chris Iwelumo headed home the only goal of the game midway through the second half after a terrible mistake from Ben Coker.

And Blues were unable to get back in to the game.

The Shrimpers had initially started brightly with Freddy Eastwood sending a long range shot over the North Bank net before Michael Timlin sent a powerful left wing cross fizzing across the face of goal.

Ryan Leonard then also sent a 25 yard shot over the bar but the midfielder soon wasted a good chance to give the Shrimpers the lead, heading Kevan Hurst’s right wing cross straight at Scunthorpe goalkeeper Sam Slocombe from 12 yards.

Moments later, Eastwood also headed straight at Slocombe after being picked out by Ben Coker’s left wing cross and, with Blues remaining on top, Timlin then sent a well struck 25 yard shot just inches wide of the right post.

With 39 minutes on the clock, Eastwood headed a right wing cross from Will Atkinson wide of the left post and, on the stroke of half-time, Coker’s low, right wing corner went right across the six yard box.

At the start of the second half, Hurst sent a 20 yard shot inches over the crossbar with his left foot but, in the 63rd minute, Scunthorpe opened the scoring following a defensive mistake from Coker.

The Blues’ left back headed a left wing cross from Etienne Esajas back across his own goal and that enabled Chris Iwelumo to nod home from six yards.

Five minutes later, Shrimpers boss Phil Brown made a double substitution as Anthony Straker replaced Timlin on the left flank and Barry Corr came on for Cauley Woodrow in attack.

Craig Reid soon followed in place of Coker but Scunthorpe almost doubled their lead in the 74th minute when Craig McAllister unleashed a long range shot which Daniel Bentley did well to tip to safety.

Blues rarely threatened in the closing stages with Hurst’s long range shot, was which tipped over by Slocombe, being the nearest they came to scoring.