SOUTHEND United manager Chris Powell feels tonight's 2-0 win against Scunthorpe United will boost the Shrimpers' flagging confidence.

Blues went into the game on the back of four successive League One defeats.

And Powell was delighted to secure a morale boosting victory at Roots Hall.

"The boys have been low on confidence and this was a big game tonight," said Powell.

"We got a clean sheet which we haven’t had for a while and we got the win too.

"We nearly messed it up tonight but this will help our confidence.

"We’re a young team who have been hurting and they were desperate to get that win."

Goals from Timothee Dieng and Sam Mantom saw the Shrimpers beat a Scunthorpe side who had James Perch sent off after just 38 minutes.

And Powell was quick to praise the efforts of the Shrimpers.

"They gave me everything," said Powell.

"I know fans will say it’s 11 against 10 but the players are nervy and they are bound to be.

"We needed a result and it didn’t matter how it came.

"We were in the ascendency and maybe it might have been better if Scunthorpe stayed with 11 men.

"Their keeper made some good saves from Stephen McLaughlin but in the second half we knew they would throw caution to the wind and they did.

"We showed in patches what we needed to do and that was moving the ball quickly to make use of the extra man.

"It happened for the goal and I’m pleased for Sam.

"He lead by example and I think I’ll tell him we’re playing Scunthorpe every week now!"