It was back to square one for Southend United last night as they fell victim to a smash-and-grab raid from Third Division high-flyers Scunthorpe United at Roots Hall.

Hopes were high before the game, following Saturday's tremendous 3-0 victory at neighbours Leyton Orient, but Blues reverted back to their bad old ways against the Humbersiders as they crashed to their second consecutive home defeat.

If new Southend boss Alan Little did not know how big his task at Roots Hall was, he can be under no illusion of the size of his job after last night's display.

His first home match in charge ended on a bitter note as his team were beaten by a single first-half strike from visiting forward Gareth Sheldon - which leaves Blues nine points ahead of bottom club Hartlepool, who worryingly have two games in hand.

For the third match in succession Blues failed to find the net at Roots Hall as front pairing Neil Campbell and Trevor Fitzpatrick were left frustrated and starved of service for the majority of the 90 minutes.

Their attempts to break down a well-drilled Scunthorpe outfit was not helped by the lack of invention in the midfield engine room, with Lars Unger and Mark Patterson a pale shadow of their lively double act at Orient.

The only spark came from Lee Hodges, who started the game brightly and seemed to be able to twist and turn past his opponents at will in the first period.

However, Hodges, who is on loan from West Ham, soon faded as his team mates failed to capitalise on his darting runs by making use of the space he created single-handedly.

Even Blues' defence, which had seemed fairly comfortable at Orient, had an uneasy nervous look about it as skipper Simon Coleman mistimed a number of challenges and David Morley gave the ball away in nightmare positions.

One man who did come out of the match with some credit was goalkeeper Mel Capleton, who again displayed his agility to keep the Shrimpers in the game with a string of stunning saves.

He was called into action within 60 seconds of the kick-off after Scunthorpe midfielder Paul Harsley latched onto Morley's misdirected header and nudged Jamie Forrester through on goal.

However, Capleton was equal to the task and tipped the front runner's well-struck drive over the bar one-handed from close range.

Three minutes later Hodges rampaged through the centre of the park from his own half before cleverly setting Fitzpatrick scampering towards goal, but the under-18 Ireland international's effort was easily blocked by Scunthorpe custodian Tom Evans.

Hodges then twisted and turned past two defenders before surging forward on another breathtaking run and flashed a left-foot shot just past the right-post from 20-yards five minutes later.

Wing-back Mark Beard was the next Shrimpers player to beat his marker, this time down the right channel as he cut inside Andrew Dawson, but a sliding Fitzpatrick was inches away from converting his dangerous low cross.

However, the visitors' well organised troops soon started to dig in and claw their way back into the game by stepping up an extra gear and getting to every ball before a Blues shirt, which relinquished Southend's grip on the game.

Capleton had to come to the rescue again after 27 minutes when bruising striker John Gayle brushed aside Coleman before clipping Forrester goalward again, but Blues' keeper read the situation superbly and denied the diminutive marksman on the edge of his box.

However, Capleton could not do anything to prevent Scunthorpe's match winner two minutes later, which materialised following a defensive lapse of concentration.

Richard Logan hurled a giant throw into the Southend box from the right touchline, which was only half-cleared, and as the Shrimpers' rearguard hesitated Sheldon ran into the penalty area unchallenged and half-volleyed the ball inside Capleton's right-post.

Southend tried in vain to hit back, but Scunthorpe refused to budge and stubbornly blocked the Seasiders' efforts to open them up by getting all their players back behind the ball as soon as Blues broke forward.

Seven minutes before the break Patterson cleared the bar with a 20-yard drive and Beard curled a shot from the edge of the Scunthorpe box into Evans' arms for a routine catch.

Things did not get much better for Blues in the second period as the match drifted into a stalemate, although Southend edged out their opponents in chances.

Patterson was unlucky with a shot three minutes after the restart, which was deflected wide after Scott Houghton had fed him the ball 18 yards from goal.

It was not long before Forrester was causing problems again at the other end as Capleton did well to hold onto his 25-yard drive.

However, both sides missed absolute sitters during the last 15 minutes as first Sheldon cut inside Coleman on the right goal-line before blasting over the bar from six-yards.

Then Blues substitute, defender Martyn Booty, did the same at the other end as he blazed Houghton's left-wing centre over the bar.

Injury time saw Houghton make another raid down the left channel, but his cross was comically headed out of harm's way by Campbell when substitute forward Conlon, who was coming in behind his strike partner, looked certain to score.

Hard grafter - Lee Hodges, on loan from West Ham, created good chances for Southend

(Right) Orders from the dugout - Southend manager Alan Little instructs his players during last night's 1-0 defeat at Roots Hall

Pictures: STEPHEN LLOYD

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