Southend United 1 - 2 Accrington Stanley - Stanley stun Shrimpers

Southend's unbeaten run came to end with a shock 2-1 defeat to Accrington at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers went in to the game without a defeat in 10 outings, but Phil Brown's side rarely looked like scoring against Stanley, who took all three points thanks to second-half strikes from Piero Mingoia and Terry Gornell.

Southend wasted a great chance to go in front midway through the first half as Joe Pigott hit the crossbar but Accrington almost netted when Luke Joyce's volley was headed off the line by Ryan Leonard.

However, Mingoia opened the scoring for the visitors in the 53rd minute as he fired past Southend's debutant goalkeeper Ted Smith with a neatly controlled volley.

Accrington doubled their lead 19 minutes from time when a header forward cut open the Shrimpers' defence and allowed Gornell to charge through and score with a lobbed finish over Smith.

Southend replied instantly as Barry Corr headed home a right-wing cross from David Worrall.

But the Shrimpers never looked liked netting an equaliser in the closing stages.