Southend United slumped to a humiliating LDV Vans Trophy first round exit after being hit for six at Second Division strugglers Swindon Town last night.
The Robins went bobbing through the Seasiders' defence at will as John Jackson, Jimmy Davis, Matt Heywood, Danny Invincibile, Stefani Miglioranzi and Sam Parkin grabbed a half dozen for the Wiltshire outfit.
Recalled striker Graeme Jones netted his third goal of the season for the suffering Shrimpers, but it was the only consolation from a bleak evening which saw Blues crash to their biggest defeat for six years.
Consolation - Graeme Jones got Blues' goal Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
Blues' collapse was capped when right wing-back Steven Clark was harshly sent off for a second bookable offence with 20 minutes remaining.
The writing was on the wall for Southend after nine minutes when Miglioranzi fired over a wicked left-flank centre, which striker Invincibile should have converted at the back post.
But Swindon got their noses in front 60 seconds later. Loan Spurs midfielder Jackson embarrassed Darryl Flahavan with a right-sided 25-yard free-kick which flew inside the Shrimpers goalkeeper's near-post.
Southend's best spell of pressure paid off on 23 minutes. Barrington Belgrave dummied Clark's right-wing cross, allowing Jones to chest down and hammer a crisp 12-yard equaliser into the right corner of the net.
But Blues' joy was short-lived as loan Manchester United midfielder Davis finished off a storming run with a 20-yard drive past Flahavan two minutes later.
Swindon finally found the target again in first-half injury time when Heywood headed past Tilson on the goal-line, after fellow defender Adam Willis had steered Jackson's right-wing corner back across goal.
And it got worse four minutes after the restart. Ex-Chelsea striker Parkin drew in both Jordan and Cort, before sending over a low right wing cross which Invincibile couldn't miss at the far post.
Flahavan foiled Eric Sabin three minutes from time, tipping his header over the bar.
But he was beaten again 60 seconds later after pushing the resulting right-wing flag-kick from Jackson into the path of Miglioranzi, who powered home from the edge of the box.
And three minutes into injury-time the rout was completed when Parkin scampered on to Miglioranzi's pass to lift the ball over Flahavan for goal number six.
Published Wednesday October 23, 2002
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