v 
Blues boss Paul Sturrock decided to make five changes after the poor performance last weekend against Crewe.
The more usual 4-4-2 formation saw Peter Gilbert come back at left-back for Johnny Herd, Josh Simpson return at right midfield having recovered from his man-flu, Ryan Hall swapped places with Louie Soares wide left.
It was in attack though that would have brought a smile to the travelling Blues faithful as Barry Corr and Blair Sturrock both returned from injuries with Waide Fairhurst dropping to the bench.
However, Johnny Herd, Luke Prosser and Matt Paterson were all dropped from of the squad as predicted by S24 but young midfielder Alex Woodyard was promoted after impressing for Blues Two's.
Former Shrimpers centre-back Efe Sodje starts for the Shakers.
As this would have been the eleven we would have selected given the injuries, suspensions and Luggy's known dislike of Matty, we can have no excuses if it goes pear shaped and as early as the fourth minute it nearly did!
The rookie ref Mark Brown decided that Chris Parker had fouled the Shakers ManU loanee Nicholas Ajose in the box, arguably a dive but we warned he was a handful, so up stepped Ryan Lowe, and his poor effort was kept out by the much-criticised Glen Morris.
Booking for Bury's Damien Mozia for cluttering Anthony Grant, seems to be an regular tactic by most teams now, they know who our most dangerous player is!
Southend are playing the ball around well enough after that shock start, as they have done in many recent games, but are doing little with it.
On the other hand Bury continue to look dangerous when they go forward and Ryan Lowe seems to be on a one-man mission to make up for his penalty miss with a couple of shots on goal that Morris dealt with well enough.
So after all the hard work, when it looked as if the Shrimpers had done enough to go into the break level, Michael Timlin gave away a free-kick in the 41st minute, Steven Scumacher put it in the danger area, and Joe Skarz was there to head home from close range.
H-T: Bury 1 Southend 0
Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Gilbert, Simpson, Grant, Timlin, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Phillips, Woodyard, Soares, Crawford, Fairhurst, Jarvis.
Referee: Mr. M. Brown