TEN MAN Southend United slumped to a depressing 4-1 defeat at table-topping Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

The Shrimpers went in front after just two minutes when Jack Payne fired home from close range.

Matt McClure bagged a brace while Paris Cowan-Hall and Joe Jacobson were also on target during an instantly forgettable afternoon for Blues, who had left-back Jerome Binnom-Williams sent off in the 61st minute.

The defeat pushed Southend down to eighth in the League Two table.

But everything had started well for the Shrimpers, with Payne bagging his sixth goal of the season.

The attacking midfielder was picked out by an excellent right wing cross from Myles Weston before rolling home a fine, first time finish with his left foot from eight yards.

Wycombe soon hit back and almost equalised in the 14th minute when McClure burst through before seeing his low shot impressively saved by Shrimpers shot-stopper Daniel Bentley before Peter Murphy slammed the subsequent rebound against the top of the crossbar from 25 yards.

But the Chairboys were not to be denied for long and equalised in the 32nd minute when a long free-kick forward from the half way line was headed down by Aaron Pierre, enabling Paris Cowan-Hall to half volley from 12 yards.

Things then got worse for the Shrimpers on the stroke of half time when Wycombe took the lead as a drilled, left wing cross from Sam Wood flew across the face of the goal, enablingMcClure to fire home from close range.

That prompted Blues boss Phil Brown in to a double change at the break as Kevan Hurst replaced Weston while Gary Deegan came on for John-Joe O’Toole.

Southend initially threatened with David Worrall cutting in off the left flank and having a low shot smothered by Wycombe goalkeeper Matt Ingham.

But Blues were then reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute when Binnom-Williams was shown a straight red card by referee by Graham Horwood for a strong challenge on McClure.

And the Chairboys made the most of their extra man to make it 3-1 just six minutes later when a well struck, 25 yard free-kick from Joe Jacobson flew in to the left hand side of the net, despite Bentley getting a hand on to the ball.

Southend responded by making their final change of the game, with John White replacing Michael Timlin.

However, Wycombe remained on top and completed a miserable afternoon in the 72nd minute when McClure smashed an 18 yard shot high in to the roof of the net.