SOUTHEND United manager Chris Powell heaped praise on his side as ‘they turned up the volume’ to win 2-0 at Gillingham.

Shrimpers striker Simon Cox bagged both goals to secure Chris Powell’s all three points at the Priestfield Stadium.

And Powell was pleased to see the Shrimpers improve after the break to record a third away win in a row.

“It was a really good performance,” said Powell.

“The key was staying in the game in the first half.

“To be fair to Gillingham they put us under some pressure and played the conditions well.

“They had a flurry of corners and free-kicks but we defended manfully.

“At 0-0 I was quite pleased at half-time because Gillingham had showed us what they were about but we hadn’t shown them what we were about so I told them to turn up the volume a bit more.

“They certainly did that at the start of the second half and that’s what won us the game.”

Cox scored twice in the space of three minutes to clinch the win and Powell was quick to praise the in-form striker.

“Coxy is confident,” said Powell.

“I would’ve loved for him to get a hat-trick but he’s in a good place right now.

“But we won’t go overboard and we have to keep working away.

“We’re in the top 10 now which is pleasing but we want to carry that on.”