Gas Consumed By Barney Brace

Blues defender Jean-Yves M'Voto had gone for an MRI scan after breaking down in training Friday which revealed he has bruising in a joint and will see him out for up to six weeks.

So manager Steve Tilson took the surprise option of moving Anthony Grant back from midfield into central defence as Jean-Francois Christophe returned to the starting line-up.

And on the whole Southend just got away with it as they kept out late Rovers pressure to win only their second home game of the season and a very welcome three points to stop a run of three defeats in four games.

Loan signings Mikkel Andersen and Chris Dickson were both declared for the Gas who started the day in fifth position and had already chalked up four victories on the road.

Lee Barnard was the Shrimpers hero with two well taken goals to move him up to twelve of the season but have Steve Mildenhall and skipper Adam Barrett to thank for sterling work at the back, helped by an incredible dispaly of bad finishing by Dickson in a crazy ten minute spell in the second half.

The game started well for the home side when Franck Moussa went close from a free kick before Dougie Freedman's smart backheel in the 14th minute set up Barnard, who curled a brilliant shot from 20 yards wide of Andersen in the Rovers goal.

There was a scare soon after for Southend, but a 25-yard shot from Mark Wright clipped hit Captain Adam on the head and flew over the bar. Not the last time barrett would put his body on the line for his team's cause.

There was a decent shout for a Blues penalty when Rovers defender Carl Regan seemed to push Freedman in the back but the referee turned the veteran striker down.

Dougie nearly got his revenge when he shot just wide of the Rovers right hand post.

Blues keeper Mildenhall made the first of several good saves just before half time keeping out Dickson.

The second period was only three minutes old when good work by Alan McCormack found him clear in the Pirates penalty area and a great cross saw the unmarked Barnard find the net from six yards to give Southend a priceless two goal advantage.

Or so it seemed. For Blues seemed to panic, suddenly clearing the ball aimlessly while giving the ball away under little pressure, Simon Francis being guilty of this offence on more than one occasion.

This allowed the Bristol side to dominate for the first time in the game and Chris Dickson could have had a hat-trick during this spell, two chances going high and wide when it looked easier to find the target.

Grant was now being found out in his new position and made a couple of poor challanges that led to free-kicks in dangerous positions which were wasted.

However, on 56 minutes Rovers found a way back into the game when Chris Lines supplied Wright whose good cross was

The Pirates were given hope after 56 minutes though when a good run by Chris Lines allowed Wright the chance to cross and under pressure from Jo Kuffour the ball was placed wide of Mildenhall by Anthony Grant into his own net.

Mildenhall now produced another save to deny the hapless Dickson, who was soon substituted.

Lee Sawyer came on for the largely quiet Francis Laurent as Tilly saw it was time to keep what the team already had and his skill and enthusiasm were welcome.

Substitute Andy Williams came close to a Rovers equaliser in a goalmouth scramble right at the end but Southend held out for their fourth victory of the campaign which saw them move back into the top ten.

Southend Player Markings: Mildenhall - 8, Francis - 5, Grant - 6, Barrett - 9, Francis - 7, Laurent - 6 (Sawyer 74 - 7), Christophe - 6, McCormack - 7, Moussa - 7 (Herd 90), Barnard - 8, Freedman - 7 (Scannell 85).

Coca-Cola League One, Saturday, 17th October 2009 @ 15:00; Roots Hall
Barnard 14, 48 Grant 56 (og)
Starting Line-ups 1 Mildenhall 2 Francis 23 Friend 6 Barrett 4 Christophe 8 McCormack 14 Moussa (Herd 90) 7 Grant 9 Barnard 26 Laurent (Sawyer 74) 16 Freedman (Scannell 85) Substitutes 24 Joyce 18 Herd (Moussa 90) 28 Sawyer (Laurent 74) 22 O'Keefe 12 Scannell (Freedman 85) 17 O'Donovan	11 Goal Attempts 14 4 On Target 6 7 Off Target 8 0 Hit Woodwork 0 3 Offsides 1 2 Corners 3 13 Fouls 12	Starting Line-ups 27 Andersen 2 Regan 15 Anthony 6 Elliott 32 Lescott 7 Campbell 3 Wright (Williams 70) 4 Lines 11 Hughes (Swallow 70) 17 Kuffour 9 Dickson (Duffy 77) Substitutes 51 Evans 24 Kite 23 Swallow (Hughes 70) 20 Reece 16 Blizzard 8 Williams (Wright 70) 10 Duffy (Dickson 77)
	Referee C Pawson, Sheffield - 7 Attendance 6853
	Southend Utd. Cards Barrett 45 unsporting behaviour Grant 50 unsporting behaviour Barnard 57 unsporting behaviour Bristol Rvs. Cards Kuffour 57 unsporting behaviour Lescott 90 unsporting behaviour Anthony 90 unsporting behaviour