SOUTHEND United’s hopes of automatic promotion were shattered by a 3-1 defeat at Morecambe this afternoon.

Victory would have seen the Shrimpers secure a top three finish and a return to League One.

But a disappointing second half display saw Blues’ seven match winning run come to an end to condemn them to a place in the play-offs as Bury moved up into third with a narrow win at Tranmere Rovers.

Blues were roared on by more than 2,200 travelling fans at the Globe Arena but it was Morecambe who started brightly and threatened very early on with Blues’ left-back Ben Coker having to do well to head behind Jamie Devitt’s left wing cross with Alex Kenyon in close proximity.

But the Shrimps were not to be denied as they opened the scoring after just four minutes when Devitt sped into the right hand side of the penalty before delivering a low cross into the path of Redshaw who fired home a first time finish from 10 yards.

However, Southend were behind for just six minutes as Jack Payne soon brought them back level with a neat close, range finish.

The recalled midfielder was well positioned in the box and, after neat work from David Worrall down the left hand side, Payne sent a scuffed effort bouncing into the top left hand corner of the net.

 

But Morecambe continued to attack and almost retook the lead when Devitt fired just over the crossbar from 20 yards after another fine move down their right hand side.

In reply, a well constructed counter attack from the Shrimpers soon resulted in Ryan Leonard sending a well struck, long range shot fizzing over the crossbar.

However, Leonard continued to cause problems going forward and, just before the break, his right wing cross teed up Barry Corr whose header was well saved by Morecambe goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou.

At the start of the second half, Arestidou easily collected a tame low shot from Michael Timlin before the Shrimps shot-stopper did well to palm away a dangerously chipped right wing cross from Payne.

But, with 54 minutes on the clock, Morecambe regained the lead with a scrappy goal from Aaron Wildig.

The midfielder broke free inside the left hand side of the penalty area and unleashed a low, left footed shot which trickled past Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley before Coker’s attempted clearance struck the underside of the crossbar and nestled in the back of the net.

The Shrimps came close to extending their lead when Kevin Ellison send a looping header against the top of the crossbar and Blues responded by making their first substitution of the game as Kevan Hurst came on to replace Will Atkinson just before the hour mark.

John White then also came off the bench to replace Gary Deegan in a switch which saw Leonard move into midfield.

And, shortly after the alterations, Blues almost levelled when Payne worked himself some space in the penalty area and unleashed a well struck shot which Arestidou could only parry out to Hurst but his tame effort from the follow up was cleared off the line by Laurence Wilson.

Morecambe immediately the made the most of the let off by extending their lead in the 66th minute when the impressive Devitt was allowed far too much time and space to fire a low, 14 yard shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Blues hit back by making a third change as Joe Pigott replaced Coker and the Shrimpers continued to pile men and long passes forward in the closing stages.

Their best chance saw Corr have a low, 12 yard shot blocked by Arestidou meaning a broken hearted Blues will now have to lift themselves for a play-off semi-final against Stevenage.