Town fell to a controversial 2-0 defeat at home to Southend. Mark Gower put his side ahead with the Blues appealing for an offside and still protesting the lack of an earlier penalty award, then Peter Clarke added another from a set piece. Late on Lee was sent off for handling the ball into the net.

The Blues were unchanged from Tuesday's 5-2 win at Hull with new loanee Franny Jeffers making his first home start. Jon Walters missed out on a place on the bench due to his hamstring injury but Fabian Wilnis was back amongst the subs after a similar problem.

Southend's star man Freddie Eastwood should have done better in the fourth minute when he escaped beyond the Town defence, but shot well wide. Five minutes later, Lewis Price saved from Lee Bradbury, the former Portsmouth man having got away from Dan Harding.

Town ought to have gone ahead in the 17th minute. Owen Garvan cut in and crossed from the left, the newly-coiffed Lee headed down to Jeffers but the former England man completely missed his shot. Jeffers made way soon after having succumbed to a hamstring problem, Danny Haynes taking over up front.

The two incidents which turned the game occurred within two minutes of each other shortly after the half hour. First, Gary Roberts fed Lee, the Irishman taking the ball into the area and bringing the ball inside Peter Clarke. The former Everton man clearly sent the striker tumbling, however Premiership referee Martin Atkinson saw things otherwise and waved play-on.

Southend went in front after a corner was cleared to Mark Gower wide on the left. The former Barnet man crossed, the ball went through a crowd of players, was dummied by Efetobore Sodje close in and nestled in the corner of the net.

Former Nigeria international Sodje had looked the be in an offside when he made his contribution to the goal and Jason De Vos, Alan Lee and others protested long and hard about both decisions, succeeding only in getting the Irishman's name in the referee's book.

On 37 Haynes was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, although one or two Town players suggested to the referee it was inside the box. Roberts lashed the freekick into the wall and played the rebounded ball to Garvan, but his strike flew over.

A minute later, Eastwood headed over for the Shrimpers, prior to referee Atkinson awarding a rare freekick to the Blues after Simon Francis had fouled Lee, the defender receiving a yellow card. David Wright curled the freekick around the wall but straight at keeper Darryl Flahavan.

Dan Harding was booked for a foul on Francis in the 41st minute wide on the Southend right, close to the corner flag. From the set-piece the Shrimpers added to their lead. Kevin Maher's freekick was flicked on at the near post and the unmarked Peter Clarke finished from close in.

Town should have been back on terms on 44, Wright crossing and Haynes flicking a header wide when he ought to have at least tested Flahavan.

The half-time scoreline was harsh on Town, who although not at their best had had much the better of the game. The penalty looked as obvious a spotkick as you'll see, while Sodje's role in the first goal was important and certainly might have caused some linesmen to raise their flags. The Blues' frailties on set pieces were again all too clear as Clarke was allowed to score the second.

Town were close to pulling a goal back within two minutes of the restart. A David Wright corner caused all sorts of panic in the Southend area, Owen Garvan eventually hitting a shot off the outside of the post. Soon after, Legwinski shot wide.

Man of the match Flahavan made an excellent save from Garvan in the 49th minute, the Irishman having flicked the ball up and volleyed from the edge of the area and the keeper tipping over. From the corner, Legwinski's header ended up on the roof of the net.

Town had started the half strongly, but the performance began to drift as the half wore on with too many passes going astray. Jamal Campbell-Ryce shot wide from 25 yards as Southend broke forward.

Just before the hour, Wright played in Roberts on the right of the area, the former Accrington man hitting a shot across Flahavan but wide. Not long after, Wright crossed from the right and Haynes headed over.

Haynes had another opportunity on 61, Lee having played him in down the right. The former academy trainee should have scored but saw his shot deflect off Flahavan, a defender hacking the ball away from just in front of the post.

Town were looking threatening again, as were the Shrimpers on the break. Gower was unlucky not to score his side's third goal from Bradbury's cross but the ball deflected off Alex Bruce and spun narrowly wide. The ball ended up in the net from the resultant corner from Sodje at the far post, but the whistle had gone for a push.

Alan McCormack was booked for a foul on Lee on 66 but Roberts, having another under par afternoon with his set pieces, wasted the freekick. A minute later, there were calls for a penalty after Wright had been upended close to the edge of the box but again referee Atkinson wasn't interested, perhaps correctly on this occasion.

George O'Callaghan replaced Sylvain Legwinski on 68, the former Cork City man coming close to scoring his first Town goal three minutes later. Alan Lee headed the ball down and O'Callaghan hit a volley on the turn which was well blocked by Flahavan.

Alex Bruce went off for treatment for a head wound on 72 after a clash of heads at a corner, returning a little while later wearing a bandage which from a distance appeared to cover his eyes.

Eastwood should have increased his side's lead with the visitors' breakaways increasing as the Blues chased the game. The former Grays Athletic striker cut in from the right but Price did well to save.

Town finally had the ball in the net in the 77th minute, but unfortunately via the hand of Alan Lee as the striker challenged Flahavan in the air. Lee protested that he had been shoved as he went for the ball but referee Atkinson showed him his second yellow and the first red card of his Town career. The Blues, with nothing left to lose, swapped Gary Roberts for Billy Clarke.

Matt Harrold headed a good chance straight to Price on 82, prior to Alex Bruce picking up his 11th yellow card for a wild challenge on Kevin Maher.

Town continued to look for goals in injury time, Haynes hammering a header against a post and O'Callaghan hitting a freekick from 30 yards only very narrowly past the post.

A poor result for Town at the end of what had been an excellent week. The game very much appeared to turn on the two decisions just after the half hour which saw the penalty denied and Southend score a goal, which ignoring the offside claims, was very preventable.

The set-piece for the second goal was all too predictable, while the determined and resolute Shrimpers might have added to their lead in the second half, particularly in the latter stages as the Blues pushed forward more and more.

Town weren't at their best but played well at times and missed one or two decent chances, Jeffers mis-kicking early on and Haynes fluffing a header not long before the break.

Both widemen made too little of the possession they had, neither Roberts nor Peters sending in too many quality crosses. Town's corners from Roberts and Wright were usually comfortably claimed by Flahavan.

Lee was as stupid to get himself sent off as he was to get himself booked at Crystal Palace. Martin Atkinson, the referee on both occasions, is unlikely to be receiving top marks from Jim Magilton on today's performance.

The Irish striker now misses the trip to Preston on Tuesday. Franny Jeffers also looks unlikely to be in the side which travels to Deepdale, but Jon Walters will probably be OK despite his hamstring problems.

In many ways it was typical of many games against sides fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, late nineties defeats to Crewe and Portsmouth particularly springing to mind.

Town have probably already done enough to secure their Championship status, but another couple of victories would be welcome just to remove any nagging doubts resurrected by this season's eighth home defeat.

Town: Price, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Legwinski (O'Callaghan 68), Garvan, Roberts (Clarke 77), Peters, Lee, Jeffers (Haynes 25). Unused: Supple, Wilnis. Att: 24.051.

Photo: Action Images

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