So the night of the long knives had a rather blunt edge. No players banned from Roots Hall, only Luke Prosser and Ryan Leonard dropped, but only to the bench, as Blues boss Paul Sturrock saw that with the injuries and suspensions he didn't have such a big squad after all.
Whatever the result tonight bet Luggy keepes his council more this time around, but in comes Peter Gilbert at left-back and loanee Michael Timlin in midfield.
Kane Ferdinand playing again in front of the back four as Bilel Mohsni and Blair Sturrock continue their partnership up front, as the attendance is given as 4,598 with 550 travelling up from Kent, or London after work!
Danny Jackman gets a shot in for the Gillingham on 4 minutes but it goes well over before it's welcome back Timmers, a yellow card on 7 minutes later.
After 17 minutes the son of Luggy did hit the bar with a volley from around 14 yards, while just before the half-hour Shrimpers shot stopper Glenn Morris saves well from Joe Martin who tries his luck from well outside the area.
And there were the highlights of a fairly dull first half!
So up to Bilel to liven things up after the break, which he does spectacularly, and with what the Southend faithful were worried about, by getting himself sent off!
Before that Ferdy shoots over the bar from inside the six-yard box after a typical Ryan Hall corner, and Ganny Miller for the away side, and Mohsni for the home exchange harmless shots on goal.
Then 53 minutes, the first yellow, which would have banned him for one game anyway, for falling over when challenged by old boy Garry Richards, time for a Danny Jackman shot saved by Morris, then Bilel decides to get in the way of, yes, a Richards free-kick, only 14 minutes later, and receives another yellow quickly followed by the dreaded red and off he goes for an early bath, again!
Contentious decison by referee Phillips who is not endearing himself to the Shrimpers crowd, and he adds to the derison by placing wideboy Hall in the book as well, and there goes Anthony Grant seeing yellow on 76 minutes, a draw now looking good for United.
The Gills are picking up possession not surprisingly and a couple of shots from Stefan Payne test Morris who does well.
But hang on, a corner for the Shrimpers, an inswinging corner, and the highest League Two assister of last season finds centre-back Mark Phillips, who heads home on 87 minutes from close range of the underside of the bar for his third goal of the campaign!
Excited scenes at the Hall as the home section of the crowd wait for the final whistle, but, of course, the referee decides to make them sweat by adding on five minutes of stoppage time, of which Luggy tries to waste a few seconds by bringing on Prosser for Gilbert.
However, the Shrimpers see out time relatively easily, a Luke Rooney strike aside, and move up to ninth place after picking up a terrific three points.
Bring on the struggling Plymouth, who visit south-east Essex in four days time.
Full results from Tuesday evening & updated league table: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Southend United player markings: Morris - 8, Clohessy - 6, Barker - 6, Phillips - 7, Gilbert - 6 (Prosser 94), Ferdinand - 5, Timlin - 6, Grant - 6, Hall - 7, Sturrock - 6, Mohsni - 5.
Referee - Mr. D. Phillips - 4.