SOUTHEND United let slip a two goal lead in tonight’s 3-2 defeat against Brentford at Roots Hall.

Goals from summer signings Jack Bridge and Sam Dalby put the Shrimpers 2-0 in front against a young Bees side.

But Brentford hit back and capitalised on some poor Blues defending to triumph.

The Shrimpers started the pre-season friendly brightly with Rhys Murphy sending an early overhead kick wide of the right post.

But the hosts remained on top and opened the scoring after just five minutes when a quickly taken free-kick from Jason Demetriou sent Bridge running clean through on goal.

The energetic midfielder neatly took the ball in his path before striding forward and sending a low right footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Brentford soon replied with Alex Gilbert hitting the top of the crossbar from long range following a poor clearance from Shrimpers goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

The shot-stopper was making his first appearance of pre-season after recovering from coronavirus but was soon nearly punished again as another poor kick was volleyed wide of the target by Joe Adams.

After surviving the scares, the Shrimpers doubled their lead in the 17th minute with Dalby tapping home after visiting goalkeeper Matthew Cox had spilt a low shot from Murphy.

However, three minutes later the Bees were back in the game after the shaky looking Arnold was penalised for bringing down Nathan Young-Coombes and Adams confidently converted the spot-kick.

Blues hit back with James Dunne seeing his header tipped over the crossbar by Cox before Brentford replied with Adams having a low, left footed shot palmed away by Arnold.

With play soon switching back to the other of the field, Murphy fired over following more good work from Bridge down the left hand side.

But, with 35 minutes on the clock, Brentford drew back level with Adams again on target after more sloppy defending from the Shrimpers.

The Bees initially broke after Harry Phillips had conceded possession and, after Young-Coombes hit the post, the ball was swept across to the far post where Adams was on hand to fire home.

The Shrimpers replied with Bridge volleying over from close range before the hosts made two changes at the break with Harry Seaden replacing Arnold in goal and Ricky Holmes taking the place of Phillips.

Holmes was immediately involved with a curling 25 yard free-kick which was easily held by Cox before the Bees hit back to take the lead with Lachlan Brook sweeping home a fine, left footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Blues came close to netting an immediate equaliser with Murphy seeing a 20 yard shot pushed away by Cox before his replacement Ben Winterbottom kept out a low effort from Hobson after the defender had created the opportunity with a neat piece of skill.

Substitute Louis Walsh then fired wide of the left post with his first touch before Dalby also shot past the same upright from a narrow angle in the closing action of the game. 

Southend United: Arnold (Seaden 46), Demetriou (Walsh 81), White, Hobson, Ralph (Howard 63), Phillips (Holmes 46), Dunne (Ferguson 73), Ogogo, Bridge (Egbri 63), Dalby, Murphy (Rush 90).