City were crushed 4-0 at Roots Hall tonight to stay locked in the fight for survival.

Jon McLaughlin's reflex save kept out a Graham Coughlan header before Southend took the lead from the penalty spot.

Luke O'Brien, forced to play right back, fouled Harry Crawford and Barry Corr slammed the spot-kick past the diving keeper.

As Southend took control, Luke Prosser headed over from close range. But the Shrimpers grabbed their second two minutes before the break, Anthony Grant firing home from 25 yards with a slight deflection off Jon Worthington.

City did improve straight after the break and Tom Adeyemi was denied at the near post. Scott Dobie missed a great chance when he tried to round the keeper from Michael Flynn's pass.

But any slight hope of a comeback disappeared after 65 minutes when Kane Ferdinand headed Southend's third.

Four minutes later, the Shrimpers sealed the deal with the outstanding Hall bagging his second after a blunder from McLaughlin.

Robbie Threlfall fired a late free-kick against the bar before clearing off the line from Coughlan in stoppage time.