AN out of sorts Southend United suffered a New Year's Day hangover at AFC Wimbledon as their poor run of results continued with a 2-0 defeat.

Goals from Liam Trotter and Tom Soares secured the struggling Dons all three points as the Shrimpers slumped to a sixth defeat in seven games.

The latest setback, which made it seven away matches without a victory, also saw Blues slip down to 17th in the League One standings, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

And Phil Brown’s side could have no complaints about the result as the Dons dominated the majority of the match.

The Shrimpers did momentarily threaten early on when Marc-Antoine Fortune - one of five changes to the starting line-up - cut in from the left hand side before having a low shot easily saved by Dons goalkeeper George Long.

But the hosts soon hit back with Jimmy Abdou firing inches wide of the left post from 20 yards and, in the 16th minute, the Dons came close to going in front when Lyle Taylor’s rasping effort was impressively tipped over the crossbar by Shrimpers shot-stopper Mark Oxley.

In reply, the recalled Dru Yearwood - who was making his first League start since October - had a swerving long range effort tipped wide of the left post by Long.

But, after surviving the scare, the Dons broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, with Trotter on target for the first time this season.

The midfielder was left completely unmarked after Taylor had nodded a left wing cross from Harry Forrester and netted with a scuffed shot which went into the left hand side of the goal.

The Dons remained on top after taking the lead and doubled their lead in the 48th minute when a left wing free-kick from Taylor was headed down by Deji Oshilaja, enabling Soares to nod the ball home despite the best efforts of skipper Ryan Leonard and Oxley on the goal-line.

Shrimpers boss Brown responded by making a double substitution in the 55th minute with Nile Ranger replacing Fortune and Stephen McLaughlin coming on for Michael Kightly who returned to the team after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Nine minutes later came a third change as Jermaine McGlashan replaced Yearwood and his first involvement saw him deliver a ring wing cross Simon Cox could only head over the crossbar from 12 yards.

And Blues wasted a clearer opportunity to score in the dying minutes with McGlashan shooting wide of the right post from close range.