SOUTHEND United ended a run of three successive draws with a 2-0 win against Rotherham United at Roots Hall.

Stephen McLaughlin fired the Shrimpers into an early lead before Simon Cox netted 11 minutes from time to ensure the hosts avenged the 5-0 drubbing they suffered against the Millers back in August.

Blues broke the deadlock after just seven minutes when Cox charged forward down the left hand side and played a fine cross-field pass into the path of McLaughlin who netted with a neatly controlled left footed shot.

Moments later, a fine Shrimpers move resulted in Dru Yearwood having a 25 yard shot tipped over by Rotherham goalkeeper Lewis Price.

But, with 17 minutes on the clock, Blues wasted a golden chance to double their lead as Marc-Antoine Fortune raced clean through on goal – only to be denied by Price as the Frenchman attempted to round the Millers shot-stopper.

With the Shrimpers remaining on top, Cox then saw his close range header from Sam Mantom’s fine right wing cross deflected over the crossbar before Michael Turner volleyed over a left wing corner from Anthony Wordsworth.

But, after surviving the scares, Rotherham came close to equalising on the stroke of half-time when David Ball’s low, left footed shot bobbled just wide of the right post.

Rotherham looked far more of a threat in the second half and, in the 63rd minute, a low, long range effort from Richie Towell was parried out by Mark Oxley with Jerry Yates losing his footing when attempting to latch onto the resulting rebound.

In a bid to strengthen up his side, Blues boss Chris Powell made his first substitution of the afternoon in the 68th minute with Michael Timlin replacing the composed Mantom in the centre of the park.

And in the 79th minute the new look Shrimpers doubled their lead, with Cox on target for the first time since Boxing Day.

The hard-working striker latched onto a long ball forward before beating Ajayi with a neat piece of skill in the left hand side of the penalty area and netting with an accurate low finish.

Two minutes after the strike, Shayon Harrison replaced Fortune in attack for the Shrimpers’ second change but the visitors still continued to attack.

As a result, Blues winger McLaughlin did well to clear Michael Smith’s header off the goal-line before Richie Towell hit the crossbar late on.