A goal in each half saw Southend United crash to a 2-0 defeat at Millwall on a bitterly cold night at The Den.
Millwall opened the scoring in controversial fashion deep into first half injury time through Danny Schofield before Shaun Batt increased their lead shortly after the interval.
It was a frustrating night for Southend in League One, who struggled to create any clear-cut openings in front of goal and will now be looking for their first win in four games at home to Swindon Town on Saturday.
Millwall had an early sight of goal, as Steve Morison headed over Chris Hackett's right wing cross with just 25 seconds on the clock.
A decent opening soon presented itself for Matt Paterson at the other end, but the young striker blazed over from inside the penalty box after good work from Franck Moussa.
Paterson had another chance when collecting Alan McCormack's flicked pass, but his low shot from an acute angle was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper David Forde.
Millwall offered a quick response to that incident though, by creating two chances in the space of a minute.
Batt was played through only to shoot straight at Steve Mildenhall before Morison was found in space at the far post, but he could only hook the ball over the crossbar.
There was controversy at the end of the first half though, with Millwall opening the scoring through Schofield.
Simon Francis was clearly fouled by Batt on the left-hand side, but after the referee allowed play to continue, Hackett crossed into the box where Jack Smith's attempted shot found its way to Schofield, who stabbed the ball past Mildenhall from six yards.
Damian Scannell looked to break through on goal after the restart, but instead of passing to the unmarked Paterson, he took aim from 20 yards out with the ball sailing harmlessly over the top.
And in the 64th minute, Millwall went on to double their lead, as Batt charged forward before cutting inside the box and unleashing a shot beyond the reach of Mildenhall.
Moussa dragged a low shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post, but Millwall should have added a third goal when Paul Robinson somehow headed wide of the target from in front of goal.
The Blues made a double substitution in the 72nd minute, with Dougie Freedman and Scott Spencer both entering the fray, but they were simply unable to get past the hosts rearguard.
Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa (O'Keefe 46), Francis, Barrett, Malone, Scannell, Christophe, Grant (Freedman 72), McCormack, Moussa, Paterson (Spencer 72).
Millwall: Forde, Robinson, Schofield, Hackett, Craig, Ward, Morison, Smith, Batt, Abdou, Trotter.
