Liam Trotter scored twice as Town unconvincingly beat Southend 2-0 at Roots Hall. The Blues put in another under par performance for the most part, only really impressing to any degree after going in front.
The home side were close to going in front in the early stages of the game when Adam Barrett's distance effort went narrowly wide.
Town didn't really threaten the Shrimpers' goal until the near the break when Trotter hit a post and Jon Walters looped a header on to the roof of the net.
The home side probably had the better of the first half with the Blues putting in a display not dissimilar to the performance at Cork on Sunday. Southend had a lot of the ball but rarely threatened Richard Wright's goal.
The Blues went in front 12 minutes into the second half when David Norris crossed from the right and Trotter headed in from seven yards.
Nine minutes later, the midfielder, one of Town's more impressive performers throughout pre-season, added the second. Jon Stead brought the ball forward before laying the ball off to Trotter, who curled the ball into the net from just outside the area.
Trotter might have completed his hat-trick late on when he went close with a header but a third goal would have flattered the Blues.
Few players stood out aside from Trotter, although skipper Gareth McAuley was solid at the back. New left-back Damien Delaney was booked and soon after committed another foul which in a league game might have seen referee Andy D'Urso show a red card and the Irishman was swiftly substituted.
D'Urso had a surprisingly busy evening with both sides committing a succession of petty fouls throughout the match.
Notably missing from the Town squad was striker Kevin Lisbie, linked with a possible move away from Portman Road this summer.
Town: R Wright, Bruce (D Wright 52), McAuley, Balkestein, Delaney (Smith 56), Walters (Rhodes 72), Norris, Garvan (Shumulikoski 76), Trotter, Martin (Quinn 72), Stead (Wickham 68). Unused: Supple.