All to no avail, and made worse by Bilel's red card, as the home side moved into the League Two play-off places with three vital points and their eighth consequitive home victory that continued the Shrimpers slide into mid-table obscurity.
Accrington took the lead when Ian Craney heading home in the 10th minute after a Sean McConville corner, once again Southend give away an early lead.
However, the travelling faithful were cheering in the second half, when two minutes before the hour Ryan Hall struck a terrific 25-yard free kick past Alex Cisak in the Stanley goal.
Sadly for them though their long trip for the rearranged fixture was not to be rewarded as on 80 minuted Terry Gornell struck from close range, to be followed only four minutes later by Phil Edwards from the spot after Bilel Mohsni had tripped Gornell in the box, looked a touch harsh, but there you go.
Referee David Webb decided to show the French Tunisian centre-back a second yellow card, following the first given on 33 minutes after a typical Bilel intervention in some handbags stuff that he had nothing to do with, and just as he returns from injury he's taken away again!
Southend player markings: Morris - 7, Clohessy - 5, Prosser - 5, Mohsni - 5, Barker - 6, Ferdinand - 5, Comingues - 5, Grant - 6, Hall - 6, Corr - 5, Asante - 5 (Sturrock 69 - 5).