SOUTHEND United recorded their first league win of the season this evening as they secured a 2-0 triumph at Bradford City.
Goals from Barry Corr and Anthony Grant gave Blues all three points at Valley Parade.
And that was despite Paul Sturrock's side playing the final 15 minutes with 10 men after right back Sean Clohessy was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.
Blues were on top for the majority of the match and, with six minutes on the clock, Grant fired an ambitious 30 yard shot wide of the left post.
But Bradford hit back and wasted a great chance to open the scoring when James Hanson raced on to a Gareth Evans through ball and fired wide of the left post when confronted by Blues goalkeeper Glenn Morris.
Having survived the scare, Southend replied with Bilel Mohsni heading a Ryan Hall free-kick wide of the left post from eight yards.
But Blues did were not to rue that missed opportunity as in the 17th minute they opened the scoring.
Hall's left wing cross was partially cleared and Grant's looping header from the edge of the penalty area was neatly controlled by Corr before the Irish striker fired home from 12 yards via the inside of the right post.
In a bid to conjure up an equaliser, Evans sent a deflected long range effort wide of the right post but it was Blues who remained on top.
They should have made it 2-0 in the 21st minute when Craig Easton teed up Josh Simpson but, with just Bantams keeper Jon McLaughlin to beat, the winger dragged his low effort wide of the left post.
On the stroke of half time, Hall volleyed past the opposite upright and such was Southend's dominance in the first 45 minutes that Bradford boss Peter Taylor opted to make three changes during the interval.
Blues remained on top though and doubled their lead in the 54th minute when Clohessy's right wing cross was nodded down by Corr, enabling Grant to smash a low 25 yard shot in to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Corr then headed off target after being teed up by Blair Sturrock but play then switched back to the other end of the field with Jake Speight sending a deflected effort over the crossbar.
Evans then volleyed a close range effort straight at Morris but Blues suffered a blow in the 75th minute when Clohessy was dismissed.
The right-back picked up his first caution at the start of the second half after kicking the ball away and he was then ordered off by referee Paul Tierney after a mistimed tackle on Luke O'Brien.
Despite his dismissal, Southend remained solid and held on to secure all three points.
