SOUTHEND United sunk to their heaviest setback in 10 months at Chesterfield tonight as a shocking first half display led to the Shrimpers suffering a 3-0 defeat.

The Spireites, who had not won at home since the opening day of the season, blew Blues away in the first 45 minutes with Lee Novak and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake both on target.

And Ebanks-Blake firing home again after the break, Phil Brown’s slipped to their biggest defeat since losing 4-1 at Wycombe Wanderers in December 2014.

Chesterfield threatened right from the start of the game and came close to scoring after only seven minutes when Dan Gardner flashed a shot just inches wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area.

But Southend were not to be let off for long and, just 30 seconds later, the Spireites took the lead, with Novak on target.

The Chesterfield striker broke the offside trap and, with just Daniel Bentley to beat, Novak moved the ball to the right hand of the Blues shot-stopper before stroking a low shot into the back of the net.

The hosts remained on top after going in front with only a last ditch sliding challenge from Ryan Leonard stopping Novak registering another effort on goal.

However, Leonard headed the resulting Dan Jones corner just inches over his own crossbar before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sent a low, left footed volley straight at Bentley.

Moments later, Sam Morsy’s powerful long range shot flew just inches over the crossbar before Jay O’Shea also went close from 25 yards as his low effort went only just wide of the left post.

In reply, Shrimpers striker David Mooney saw a low shot smothered at his near post by Spireites goalkeeper Tommy Lee and, in a bid to remain more of a threat, Phil Brown switched to a 4-4-2 formation midway through the first half.

Anthony Wordsworth and Myles Weston went out on to the wings but it was still Chesterfield who remained on top and, in the 32nd minute, Morsy saw another powerful effort parried away by Bentley.

Southend soon hit back with Anthony Wordsworth firing over after good work from Joe Pigott and Ben Coker down the left hand side.

But Chesterfield immediately hit back and, with 37 minutes on the clock, they deservedly doubled their lead.

The lively Gardner was again the instigator as he cut in from the left hand side of the penalty area before seeing his rasping shot blocked on the line by Coker.

However, Ebanks-Blake reacted quickest to the loose ball and slammed the rebound into the roof of the net from close range.

Southend attempted to get back into the game before the break with Mooney having a cross-shot headed over his own goal by Jones before Anthony Wordsworth fired a well struck shot straight at Spireites goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

After the break, Blues went even closer to scoring when Michael Timlin played in Pigott but the striker was immediately closed down by Lee who did well to block the low shot.

Pigott then prodded another effort wide of the right post while under pressure but the Shrimpers were unable to make a breakthrough.

However, Chesterfield had no such difficulties at the other end of the field and made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute, with Ebanks-Blake again on target.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man again reacted sharply inside the six yard box and, fired home, after Ian Evatt’s header from Jones’ right wing cross had been blocked in front of goal.

Immediately after falling even further behind, Blues made their first change of the night with Jack Payne coming on to replace Wordsworth.

A second alteration followed in the 71st minute with Kevan Hurst taking the place of Mooney before, eight minutes later, Jason Williams also entered the action.

He replaced Pigott in attack but the substitutes were unable to spark a late Shrimpers fight-back as their three-match winning streak came to an end in convincing fashion.