SOUTHEND United surged out of the relegation zone with a stunning 3-1 win at high-flying Forest Green Rovers tonight.

Blues started the evening bottom of the table but produced arguably their best display of the season so far to triumph on their first ever visit to the New Lawn.

Victory would have taken Forest Green to the top of League Two and the hosts threatened first with former Blues midfielder Isaac Hutchinson fizzing an early free-kick over the crossbar from out wide.

Blues soon hit back with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild seeing his 20 yard shot deflected over the crossbar but the visitors were not to be denied for long and, in the 20th minute, they took a shock lead in stunning fashion.

A right-wing free-kick from Kyle Taylor was only half cleared into the path of centre-back Shaun Hobson who smashed a stunning first time volley into the back of the net from 16 yards.

The goal was Hobson’s first of the season and Blues soon almost doubled their lead with Emile Acquah heading Hackett-Fairchild’s right wing cross inches wide of the left post.

Forest Green hit back with Baily Cargill heading over before the Shrimpers replied with John White bundling a brilliant left wing cross from Tom Clifford wide of the left post before Forest Green threatened just before the break with Odin Bailey cutting on from the right flank and having a well struck shot tipped over by Mark Oxley.

Frustrated Forest Green boss Mark Cooper responded by making a triple change at the break with top scorer Jamille Matt among those coming on and Hutchinson one of the three to make way.

Aaron Collins also entered the action and was soon denied by a brave piece of goalkeeping from Oxley who did well to dive at his feet and stop a shot.

After surviving the scare, Southend hit back and doubled their lead with another well taken effort in the 55th minute, with Dieng on target.

The Frenchman raced into the left hand side of the penalty area and, after being teed up by Simeon Akinola, the midfielder curled an excellent effort into the right hand side of the net.

However, things were to get even better for Blues as, with 70 minutes on the clock, Ferguson fired home an outrageous effort from long range to make it 3-0.

The midfielder won the ball back at least 35 yards from goal and netted with a stunning strike which flew high into the top left hand corner of the net.

Blues responded by making their first change of the night as Alan McCormack came on for Taylor in the centre of the park before Ashley Nathaniel-George replaced Acquah 10 minutes from time.

Forest Green rallied after the changes after got a goal back four minutes from time with Matt on target.

But the Shrimpers saw out six minutes of stoppage time to record a hugely significant victory.