Southend United suffered a late 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town, having been forced to play with 10 men for over an hour in wet and windy conditions at Huish Park.
Sean Morrison endured a debut to forget for the Blues, as he was sent off in the first half having only signed for the club on the day of the game. His arrival was a needed boost to the lack of numbers available in defence, but his red card and subsequent suspension becomes another body blow to the team.
Despite some sturdy rearguard action and brilliant saves from Steve Mildenhall against his former club, Yeovil eventually made their extra man count and scored the winning goal through substitute Dean Bowditch 13 minutes from time.
The first chance of the match arrived in the 12th minute, with Southend involved in a neat exchange of quick passes around the Yeovil penalty area, which eventually led to Simon Francis' low cross being turned into the side netting by Francis Laurent.
Yeovil soon thought they had taken the lead, as Stefan Stam powerfully met an in-swinging corner with a header that looked goal bound until it cannoned off the left-hand post.
And the hosts soon found themselves in another great position to take the lead when Scott Murray ghosted his way inside the box from the right flank, with only an excellent save from the legs of Mildenhall beating away his low shot.
Mildenhall soon repeated the trick by producing an even better stop to keep out a shot from John Obika, as the striker got away from his marker before drilling a strike that was superbly turned around the post with his left hand.
In the 31st minute though, the Blues were left up against it after being reduced to 10 men. Morrison had only just signed on loan from Swindon Town, but he was shown a red card, after being penalised for pulling back Obika on his way towards goal.
With Adam Barrett hurrying back to provide cover at the time, the decision was certainly controversial.
Southend's task was already tough enough in trying to beat the elements, as Christophe moved back from midfield into the centre of defence before Ryan Mason came close from the resultant free kick when he arrowed the ball just wide of the right-hand post.
Yeovil then looked to make the most of the numerical advantage at the end of the first half, with Andrew Welsh missing a gilt-edged chance, as he bypassed a sliding challenge from Alan McCormack to race through on goal, only to blaze over the top with just Mildenhall to beat.
In the second half, Yeovil beat the offside trap early on to present Murray with a free route to goal, but he took too long controlling the ball and proceeded to shoot wide of the target.
A left foot shot from Mason sailed just past the left-hand post before McCormack mistimed a clearance and allowed Welsh to run through on goal, but before he could pull the trigger, Anthony Grant had rushed back to halt the danger.
The pressure continued from Yeovil and although Southend were doing their best to hold tight, Mason was still able to get in an effort at goal, which needed another fine save from Mildenhall to keep it out.
The Blues had battled manfully and kept Yeovil at bay with just 10 men, but the deadlock was broken in the 77th minute, with Bowditch reacting first to a free kick inside the box to prod the ball past Mildenhall.
It was always going to be tough for Southend to get back on level terms and as it was, Mildenhall was called upon to make another impressive save with his legs to deny Bowditch scoring again in the closing stages.
Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Grant, Laurent, Christophe, McCormack, Moussa, Freedman (Walker 81), Barnard.
Yeovil: McCarthy, Alcock, Caulker, Stam, O'Callaghan, Welsh (Bowditch 71), Mason (Murtagh 89), Murray (Tomlin 80), Kalala, Hutchins, Obika.
