A first goal of the season from both Adam Barrett and Alan McCormack allowed Southend United to come from behind and pick up an excellent 2-1 win at Leyton Orient.
The first half was a real slow burner in this League One derby, but it was a totally different affair after the break as Southend, backed by over 1,400 supporters, turned the game on its head to secure the three points at Brisbane Road.
Adam Chambers put Orient into the lead, but Barrett was on hand for a quick reply before McCormack scored the winning goal for Southend's first victory away from home in eight games.
As early as the third minute, Southend were under pressure to clear their lines, with a deflected shot coming across goal and needing Sean Morrison to block Adrian Patulea's effort behind from close range.
Just a minute later and Ian Joyce was pressed into action to make a good save in tipping Tamika Mkandawire's header over the top before Franck Moussa brought some respite with a 30 yard strike smothered by goalkeeper Jamie Jones at the second attempt.
Barrett headed a corner over the top at the far post , but with chances restricted to long range, Jimmy Smith drilled an effort that Joyce dived down to save, as the first half failed to provide the intensity of a local derby.
More was expected for the second half and Orient carved out two decent openings at the start, with Luke Ashworth heading off target inside the box before Andros Townsend blazed over when well positioned 15 yards out.
And the deadlock was soon broken in the 57th minute by Orient, as Chambers was afforded far too much space to line up a shot 20 yards out and arrow the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
But just two minutes later, Southend gave the perfect response, with Simon Francis delivering a cross from the right flank and after Ben Chorley failed to get the ball under control, Barrett was in the right place to pounce and lash it underneath Jones.
Lee Barnard had a good chance to add to his 17 goals for the season when he did well to control Moussa's lofted pass, but after creating the space inside the area, he could only volley the ball straight at Jones.
The Blues made a double substitution in the 71st minute, with Jean-Francois Christophe and James Walker entering the field and just three minutes later, they grabbed the lead.
Francis supplied a cross from the right wing and although Barnard intially controlled the ball, McCormack arrived to swiftly pick up possession and scramble it past Jones and into the net.
Damian Scannell fizzed a shot wide of the right-hand post when trying his luck from distance before Joyce was on hand at the other end to grasp Ashworth's header from a corner.
Four minutes of injury time was signalled by the fourth official, but Southend held out with few problems to pick up a much-needed win away from home.
Southend: Joyce, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Laurent (Walker 71), Grant (Christophe 71), McCormack, Moussa, Scannell, Barnard.
Leyton Orient: Jones, Chorley, Mkandawire, Ashworth, Melligan (Demetriou 76), Chambers, McGleish, Cave-Brown, Smith, Patulea (Pires 46), Townsend.
