SOUTHEND United’s 13 match unbeaten streak was ended by League One leaders Sheffield United at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Simon Cox netted a well-taken equaliser for the Shrimpers in the first half but the Blades hit back in style to secure a comprehensive 4-2 victory.

Jermaine McGlashan bagged late consolation strike for Blues but it was not enough to stop Phil Brown's side suffering their first defeat since October.

Sheffield United, who have now won six games in a row, went in front after just three minutes with Ethan Ebanks-Landell on target.

The centre-back was picked out by a left wing cross from Mark Duffy and sent a glancing header into the right hand side of the net.

The goal came following a spell of pressure which began when Blues full-back Jason Demetriou made a mistake of trying to clear the ball and the Blades could have made it 2-0 shortly after when Kieron Freeman fired wide of the right post when clean through on goal.

But, after surviving the scare, the Shrimpers hit back and drew level in the 19th minute following a well-taken effort from Cox.

The striker was picked out by a low, right wing cross from Marc-Antoine Fortune and, after controlling the ball, he stroked a neatly controlled right footed shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Moments later, Blues midfielder Anthony Wordsworth saw a well struck 20 yard shot tipped over by Simon Moore before the Blades custodian also pushed away a curling effort from Cox.

With 35 minutes on the clock, Shrimpers’ Will Atkinson saw a well struck shot smothered by Moore at the second attempt before his opposite number, Ted Smith, rushed out quickly to stop Billy Sharp reaching a wayward backpass from Wordsworth.

But Smith was beaten again three minutes before the break when poor marking from the Shrimpers allowed an unmarked O’Connell to volley home a right wing free-kick from Duffy at the far post.

In a bid to get back into the game, Blues boss Phil Brown made his first change of the afternoon on the hour mark as Jermaine McGlashan replaced Fortune in a swap which saw Southend revert to a 4-4-2 formation.

However, the Blades remained on top and extended their lead in the 72nd minute with former Blues loanee Caolan Lavery on target.

The striker reacted sharply inside the penalty area to fire home a powerful left foot shot before the visitors made it 4-1 in the 76th minute when Lavery’s pass played in Kieron Freeman who got in behind McGlashan to score.

But the Shrimpers hit back to net a late consolation as McGlashan won the ball back inside the penalty area before firing home and, Cox nearly added to the excitement right at death when he thundered an effort against the crossbar.