SOUTHEND United remain at the foot of the League Two table after suffering a 1-0 defeat against in-form Mansfield Town at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers rarely threatened against the Stags and their misery was compounded late on by a red card to Timothee Dieng which came after Elvis Bwomono and Alan McCormack had already gone off injured.

The setback was Southend’s second at home in the space of five days but Mark Molesley’s side did push forward early on with Kyle Taylor sending a long range effort wide of the right post before McCormack fired past the opposite upright after a corner from Taylor had been half cleared.

Moments later, Simeon Akinola’s low effort from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s left wing cross was saved by Mansfield goalkeeper Aidan Stone before the visitors hit back with Jamie Reid seeing his effort blocked on the line by Dieng.

The Stags soon threatened again with Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley coming off his line to deny George Lapslie and that kept the game goalless until the end of the first half.

The Shrimpers were forced into a change at the break with Tom Clifford replacing the injured Bwomono in a swap which saw Greg Halford switching to right-back.

The new look Blues carved open the first chance of the second period with Dieng heading Akinola’s left wing cross wide of the right post.

The Shrimpers were forced into a second change in the 59th minute with Ashley Nathaniel-George taking the place of the injured McCormack.

But, five minutes later, the Stags went in front when Jordan Bowery worked his way past Halford before cutting inside and unleashing a low effort Oxley could only parry into the path of Jamie Reid who tapped home from close range.

A third change for Blues soon followed with Emile Acquah replacing Halford but the hosts still looked unlikely to score.

And the Shrimpers suffered another blow six minutes from time when Dieng was shown a second yellow card for an off the ball incident.

Despite their numerical disavantage, Blues did muster one slight chance late on but Akinola's deflected close range, from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild's cross, was easily saved by Stone.