JASON Demetriou’s second goal in three games handed Southend United a narrow and nervy 1-0 win against AFC Wimbledon at Roots Hall tonight.

The Shrimpers right-back - who netted just once last season - fired home a deflected effort on the hour mark.

And some dogged defending at the other end of the pitch meant the Cyprus international’s strike was enough to secure back to back wins for Blues.

Southend - who triumphed 4-2 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday - threatened after just 15 minutes when Anthony Wordsworth curled a 20 yard free-kick inches over the crossbar before Ryan Leonard fired wide of the post from long range.

After surviving the scares, the Dons hit back with Will Nightingale heading Dean Parrett’s right wing free-kick inches wide of the right post and, in the 23rd minute, the visitors came even closer to taking the lead when Wordsworth saw his attempted clearance bounce back off the left upright.

Moments later, Parrett sent a deflected effort just past the right post from the edge of the penalty area before George Francomb’s well struck long range shot was impressively kept out by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

In reply, Shrimpers midfielder Josh Wright - on his home debut – fired wide of the left post from 20 yards before Nile Ranger fired straight at Dons goalkeeper George Long from a similar distance in the opening action of the second half. Wordsworth then fired inches wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area before Blues boss Phil Brown made his first change of the night in the 55th minute with Theo Robinson replacing Simon Cox in attack.

Seconds after the alteration, Leonard fired straight at Long after good hold up play from Ranger before Blues broke the deadlock on the hour mark, with Demetriou again on target.

The attacking right-back collected a pass from Michael Timlin before bursting into the right hand side of the penalty area and delivering a cross which Long could only deflect into his own goal.

The visitors came close to netting an immediate equaliser when Parrett’s well taken effort was ruled out for handball before Blues also had a goal ruled out with Wright’s close range shot being disallowed for offside.

After disallowed efforts the Shrimpers made a second substitution in the 70th minute with Jermaine McGlashan replacing Stephen McLaughlin and the winger soon had shouts for a penalty waved away when he went to ground following a challenge from Francomb.

But moments later the Dons wasted a fine chance to equalise when Cody McDonald was smartly denied by Oxley before Brown bolstered his defence by bringing on John White in the 80th minute.

He lined up at left-back with Timlin moving into the middle and it was the Shrimpers who came closest to scoring late on with Robinson being denied by Long.