A SHAMBOLIC Southend United ended 2015 in horrific fashion, crashing to a desperately disappointing 4-0 defeat at home to Millwall this afternoon.

The Lions netted three times in the opening 45 minutes – with Joe Martin and Fred Onyedinma on target either side of an own goal from Shrimpers goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

And Aiden O’Brien heaped further misery on Phil Brown’s subdued side after the break as Blues crashed back down to earth just two days after winning the Essex derby.

Millwall were on top right from the start, forcing three corners inside the opening four minutes but Blues soon hit back from a flag kick of their own as Adam Barrett headed over a left wing delivery from Ben Coker.

However, the Lions were soon back on top and opened the scoring in the 27th minute, with Martin on target.

The left-back –who is the son of former Southend boss Alvin - collected a half cleared right wing cross from Fred Onyedinma and drilled a low, 20 yard shot into the back of the net via the inside of the left post.

The Shrimpers hit back with David Worrall sending an instinctive close range volley straight at visiting goalkeeper David Forde from 10 yards.

But the visitors were soon back on the attack and doubled their lead in the 35th minute, courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Bentley.

The Shrimpers shot-stopper misjudged a right wing cross from Shaun Cummings and could only look on in horror as it struck the inside of the left post before hitting his knee and rebounding into the back of the net.

The Lions soon came close to making it 3-0 with Onyedinma bursting into the box before chipping his shot inches wide of the left post.

Moments later, Millwall wasted a far clearer chance to score when Steve Morison latched onto a wayward header from Ryan Leonard but could only drag his shot wide of the right upright.

However, the Lions were not to be denied a third goal before the break as Onyedinma tapped the ball home from close range after Bentley had done well to keep out Morison’s low shot from Shaun Williams’ right wing corner.

Stunned Shrimpers boss Brown made two changes at the break with Stephen McLaughlin replacing the clearly unfit Coker and Gary Deegan coming on for Worrall.

The alterations saw Blues switch to three at the back but it was still the Lions who threatened next with O’Brien having a close range header impressively saved by Bentley.

Brown replied by making his third change of the afternoon in the 56th minute as Joe Pigott replaced Noel Hunt.

The on loan Charlton Athletic striker soon saw a goalbound shot blocked by a sliding Martin before the Lions raced further ahead with a fourth goal, 20 minutes from time, as O’Brien charged through before netting with a low, left footed shot to complete a miserable afternoon for the Shrimpers.