FIRST-HALF goals from Ryan Leonard and Michael Kightly saw Southend United start the new League One season with a 2-1 win against title favourites Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.

The duo were both on target during a dominant opening period from the Shrimpers.

And, despite Rovers skipper Charlie Mulgrew netting a fine free-kick in the 53rd minute, Phil Brown’s side held on to secure a hard fought three points.

Despite the final score-line it was the visitors came close to opening the scoring inside the first five minutes when Stephen Hendrie nearly headed the ball past his own goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

However, Oxley was able to get a hand on the ball which enabled Hendrie to rush back and clear the danger.

Blues soon hit back with Leonard sending a long range shot straight at Blackburn goalkeeper David Raya’s before his opposite number, Oxley, did well to parry a powerful effort from Elliott Bennett to safety.

Moments later and, with play switching back to the other end of the field, Jason Demetriou sent a low, left footed shot from 20 yards straight at Raya.

But with the Shrimpers remaining on top Michael Kightly soon created a great chance for Jermaine McGlashan as his left wing cross found the wide-man at the far post.

But McGlashan volleyed his effort into the ground and was tipped over by Raya.

However, Blues were not to be denied for long as they broke the deadlock from the resulting right corner as Michael Timlin’s flag-kick found an unmarked Leonard at the far post and the midfielder made no mistake with a firm low volley which flew into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Blackburn came close to equalising when Dominic Samuel’s scuffed six yard shot deflected wide of the left post for a corner before summer signing Bradley Dack headed over a gaping goal from eight yards.

And those wasted opportunities increased in significance in the 38th minute when the returning Kightly doubled the Shrimpers lead.

The summer signing reacted sharply after Demetriou and Marc-Antoine Fortune both had shots blocked and netted with a firm effort from eight yards.

However, Blackburn began the second half brightly and halved Blues’ lead in the 53rd minute when ex Shrimpers loanee Charlie Mulgrew curled a fine 30 yard free-kick into the top right hand corner of the net.

Blues survived a period of pressure following the goal and hit back with Kightly teeing up Timlin who chipped his effort over the crossbar from 12 yards.

With the Shrimpers now starting to cause more problems, Fortune had a close range header well saved by Raya after being smartly set up by McGlashan.

But the missed opportunities went unpunished as Blues dug deep and survived five minutes of stoppage time to come out on top - despite substitute Theo Robinson wasting a great chance to score late on when he headed straight at Raya from 10 yards.