SOUTHEND United suffered their second 3-1 defeat to Gillingham in the space of four days at Roots Hall tonight.

The Shrimpers – who were beaten by Justin Edinbugh’s in League One on Saturday – were this time seen off in the first round of the League Cup.

And the setback again came after Stephen McLaughlin had fired Blues in front in the first half.

Southend, who have now sunk to seven defeats in succession, threatened to break the deadlock in the eighth minute when Simon Cox half volleyed McLaughlin’s flick forward over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

But, moments later, the game was held for five minutes following a clash of heads between Gills centre-back Max Ehmer and Southend winger Luke O’Neill.

The Shrimpers man was fine to continue but Ehmer was stretchered off after a lengthy spell of treatment and was replaced in defence by Deji Oshilaja.

The visitors were forced to make a second change on the half hour mark with the influential Bradley Dack limping off injured after landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Ryan Leonard.

Dack was replaced by Emmanuel Osadebe in midfield before the Blues broke the deadlock, with McLaughlin again on target.

The winger reacted sharply after Jakub Sokolik headed down Ryan Leonard’s long throw from the right hand side and scrambled the ball into the back of the net from close range despite Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson being favourite to have got their first.

Gills complained Nelson had two hands on the ball before McLaughlin struck but they nearly drew back level just seconds later when Cody McDonald headed inches wide of the right post.

In reply, O’Neill then headed Ben Coker’s left wing cross wide of the left post before Simon Cox fired David Mooney’s pass inches wide of the target at the start of the second half.

But, after surviving the scare, the Gills hit back to equalise in the 56th minute when Billy Knott’s right wing cross found its way through to Cody McDonald who thundered the ball home from eight yards.

Gillingham soon came close to taking the lead when substitute Jay Emmauel Thomas saw his left wing cross diverted away from Jake Hessenthaler by a sliding Ben Coker at the far post.

However, the Gills were not to be denied for long as they took the lead in the 74th minute, with Emmanuel Thomas on target.

The on loan QPR striker terrorised the Shrimpers on his debut on Saturday and he caused the home-side even more problems last night by firing a low, 25 yard shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net with his left foot.

Blues replied by making a double substitution in the 79th minute as Jack Bridge and Jermaine McGlashan entered the action in place of McLaughlin and Mooney before Jason Williams also replaced Adam King.

But the Shrimpers still rarely threatened and, three minutes from time, the visitors completed the scoring with Emmanuel-Thomas cooly rounding the advancing Mark Oxley before slotting the ball into the back of the net.