Port Vale 2 - 0 Southend United: Super-sub Anton Forrester earns Port Vale victory

Substitute Anton Forrester scored one goal and set up another as Port Vale secured a 2-0 win over Southend at Vale Park.

The 22-year-old, brought in on a free this summer, headed in his first goal for the Valiants just before the break to consign the Shrimpers to a club-record eighth straight defeat in all competitions.

Forrester then set up Remie Streete to double Vale's advantage after the break with a powerful effort.

Coming on for the injured Rigino Cicilia, Forrester put Vale ahead in the 40th minute, out-jumping Jakub Sokolik to meet Sam Foley's cross and guide a header past Mark Oxley.

Three minutes earlier, Southend had almost taken the lead when a combination of Jak Alnwick and the crossbar kept out Simon Cox's header from point-blank range.

Defender Nathan Smith almost gifted the away side an equaliser after 46 minutes when David Mooney's header cannoned off his legs before hitting a post.

Forrester then turned provider in the 76th minute, playing in defender Streete, who fired the ball home from just outside the six-yard-box.