TEN-MAN Southend United slumped to a 3-0 defeat at high-flying Wigan Athletic this afternoon.

The Latics went ahead with an early effort from Michael Jacobs before scoring twice in the final six minutes to see off a Shrimpers side who had Jermaine McGlashan sent off in the 59th minute.

The victory saw Wigan move to the top of the League One table and Paul Cook’s side started the game brightly with Nathan Byrne sending a deflected wide of the left post.

But the Latics continued to attack and opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with Jacobs on target.

The midfielder latched onto Ryan Leonard’s headed clearance from Byrne’s right wing cross and netted with low 25 yard shot which took a huge deflection off John White to wrong foot Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

In reply, the recalled Theo Robinson fired over after being teed up by Michael Timlin before Nile Ranger scuffed a volley wide of the left post from 12 yards.

However, Wigan were soon back on top with Byrne working his way past three Blues defenders before seeing his low shot blocked the legs of Oxley.

After the break, Oxley also did well to deny Byrne before attempted to get back into the game by making their first change of the afternoon in the 57th minute as Stephen McLaughlin replaced Robinson.

But, just two minutes later, the Shrimpers were reduced to 10 men with McGlashan receiving his marching orders.

After making an initial block, the winger made a two footed challenge on Wigan’s Callum Elder and was immediately dismissed by referee John Busby.

Following the winger’s dismissal, Shrimpers boss Phil Brown brought Marc-Antoine Fortune on in place of Dru Yearwood before Simon Cox replaced Nile Ranger in attack.

But it was still Wigan who threatened next with Nick Powell volleying over from six yards before Blues enjoyed a short spell of pressure without ever threatening to score.

The home-side had no such problems though and in the 84th minute they doubled their lead when Powell raced clean through on goal and rounded Oxley before tapping the ball into the back of the net.

And just four minutes later the Latics sealed their victory when a low left wing cross found Ivan Toney completely unmarked and the substitute striker netted with an accurate effort from six yards.