SOUTHEND United suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of table-topping Stockport County this afternoon.

The Shrimpers, who have now suffered four setbacks in succession, never looked like troubling the National League leaders at Edgeley Park.

And familiar frailties, most notably from defending set-pieces, contributed to Blues slumping to their biggest defeat of the season.

After holding their own in the opening exchanges, Southend went behind in the 21st after again conceding from a dead ball delivery.

A left wing corner from Antoni Sarcevic was headed back across goal by Ryan Johnson, enabling Will Collar to fire home from close range.

But things were to soon get even worse for the Shrimpers as Stockport doubled their lead just four minutes later.

Scott Quigley was allowed too much time and space on the edge of the box and rolled a pass into the path of Myles Hippolyte who fired a low 25 yard shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

With the hosts remaining on top, penalty shouts for a challenge on Collar were soon waved away by referee Scott Simpson before Paddy Madden volleyed wide of the right post from 12 yards.

Moments later, Collar wasted a fine chance to score as he fired over when left unmarked just 10 yards out before Madden sent a well struck effort over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area.

The half finished with Quigley seeing a header ruled out for offside but Stockport were not to be denied for long and made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half with Madden on target.

The experienced striker reacted sharply after Hippolyte’s right wing cross was only partially cleared and thundered a rasping shot high into the top left hand corner of the net.

Liam Hogan then saw a close range header from another Sarcevic corner saved low down by Andeng Ndi before Blues boss Maher made his first change of the game with Ollie Kensdale replacing Harry Cardwell.

However, Stockport remained on top and made it 4-0 in the 63rd minute when an unmarked Madden headed Sarcevic’s right wing free-kick into the top left hand corner of the net.

Stockport continued to pile forward with Ollie Crankshaw seeing a low shot pushed wide of the left post by Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

The Shrimpers responded by making a second change in the 75th minute with Jack Wood coming on for Will Atkinson in midfield but it was still the hosts who threatened most with Quigley seeing a deflected shot fly inched wide of the left post.

However, Blues still struggled to contain their hosts who added a fifth goal late on when a free-kick from Andy Cannon went through a shocking defensive wall before hitting the back of the net to complete a miserable afternoon for Southend.