Britt Assombalonga's early goal secured Southend's first win of the season as they beat Wycombe Wanderers.

The 19-year-old striker, on loan from Watford, headed home from eight yards out after Matt Spring cleared Ryan Cresswell's header off the line.

John Spicer, Anthony Straker and Creswell all had chances to extend the Shrimpers' lead before half-time.

Wycombe were stronger in the second half, with Spring shooting over and Joel Grant having an effort blocked.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"We made it hard for ourselves. We had several chances in the first half and early in the second and, if we'd put them away, it would have been much easier.

"I did feel we played in the right way and in the right tempo in the first half, but in the second we dropped back 10 yards which made it hard to support the front players - whereas in the first half we were very positive and got into the right areas.

"Four points in a week, you'd take that every time."

Wycombe manager Gary Waddock told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We didn't start the game right at all. We conceded early on, we were trying to chase the game, and the performance in the first half has basically been our downfall.

"We've had a conversation in the dressing room regarding why we haven't started games well this season, but you can talk as much as you like.

"It's about actions and when you start a game you have to be right on it. Today we weren't and it cost us.

"It's a tough league, we knew it would be. It's all about competing and today the group of players didn't really do that."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5)

Southend United

  • 34 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 15 Phillips
  • 16 Prosser Booked
  • 08 Timlin Booked
  • 14 Hurst (Straker - 28' )
  • 18 Leonard (Harris - 89' )
  • 19 Spicer Booked
  • 20 Assombalonga Booked
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 01 Smith
  • 03 Straker
  • 23 Barker
  • 30 Woodyard
  • 09 Harris
  • 24 Benyon
  • 32 Njie

Wycombe Wanderers

  • 01 Bull
  • 03 Basey
  • 23 Thompson Booked
  • 27 Stewart (Johnson - 66' )
  • 30 Doherty
  • 08 Lewis Booked
  • 09 Spring
  • 17 Grant
  • 24 Parsons Booked
  • 15 Oli (Ainsworth - 70' )
  • 16 Logan (Kuffour - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Harrison
  • 06 Johnson
  • 18 Dunne
  • 07 Ainsworth
  • 25 Angol
  • 26 Kewley-Graham
  • 22 Kuffour
Ref: Attwell
Att: 4,787

Match Stats

Shots

11 6

On target

6 1

Corners

7 6

Fouls

18 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:14 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +5:06

Joel Grant takes the free kick.

90:00 +5:06 Booking

Booking John Spicer goes into the book.

90:00 +4:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Spicer on Jo Kuffour.

90:00 +3:53

Neil Harris concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Spring. Matt Spring takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +3:27

Neil Harris takes a shot. Save by Nikki Bull.

90:00 +2:41 Booking

Booking Stuart Lewis receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:22

Britt Assombalonga has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

88:28 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Leonard goes off and Neil Harris comes on.

88:28

Adam Thompson challenges Cameron Belford unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

87:15

Joel Grant produces a cross, clearance made by Ryan Cresswell. Matt Spring takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Sean Clohessy.

87:05

A cross is delivered by Matt Spring.

85:39

Britt Assombalonga is ruled offside. Grant Basey takes the indirect free kick.

85:10

Jo Kuffour fouled by Sean Clohessy, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jo Kuffour.

84:28

Gary Doherty concedes a free kick for a foul on Britt Assombalonga. Free kick taken by Luke Prosser.

83:08

Matt Spring has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

80:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Britt Assombalonga by Grant Basey. Britt Assombalonga takes the free kick. Foul by Britt Assombalonga on Adam Thompson, free kick awarded. Grant Basey restarts play with the free kick. Mark Phillips fouled by Jo Kuffour, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the indirect free kick.

79:43

Matt Spring takes the indirect free kick.

79:43 Booking

Booking Luke Prosser is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

79:36

Luke Prosser challenges Joel Grant unfairly and gives away a free kick.

77:46

Corner taken by Grant Basey from the right by-line played to the near post, Michael Timlin makes a clearance.

75:35

A cross is delivered by Britt Assombalonga.

74:12

Adam Thompson takes the free kick.

74:12 Booking

Booking Britt Assombalonga booked.

73:59

Britt Assombalonga challenges Adam Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

73:08

Joel Grant produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.

71:36

Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

71:36 Booking

Booking Adam Thompson receives a yellow card.

71:28

Anthony Straker fouled by Adam Thompson, the ref awards a free kick.

70:28

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Spring from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Mark Phillips.

69:26

Adam Thompson takes the free kick.

69:26 Substitution

Substitution Gareth Ainsworth joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dennis Oli.

69:26

The ball is delivered by Luke Prosser. The referee blows for offside.

67:07

Unfair challenge on Joel Grant by Luke Prosser results in a free kick. Matt Spring takes the direct free kick.

66:16

The ball is sent over by Anthony Straker, Leon Johnson makes a clearance.

65:12 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Stewart leaves the field to be replaced by Leon Johnson.

64:18

Corner taken by Gavin Tomlin from the left by-line to the near post, Effort from outside the penalty box by John Spicer goes wide right of the target.

64:00

John Spicer takes a shot. Save made by Nikki Bull.

58:48

A cross is delivered by Grant Basey, clearance made by Anthony Straker. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matt Spring, save by Cameron Belford.

56:32

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Grant Basey, Cameron Belford makes a clearance.

56:32 Booking

Booking Michael Timlin receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

56:04

Unfair challenge on Matthew Parsons by Michael Timlin results in a free kick.

55:51

Joel Grant sends in a cross, Ryan Cresswell makes a clearance.

53:50

Ryan Leonard crosses the ball.

53:03

Anthony Straker fouled by Matthew Parsons, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the indirect free kick. Britt Assombalonga produces a cross, Adam Thompson manages to make a clearance.

52:39

Joel Grant takes a shot. Clearance by Mark Phillips.

51:26

Michael Timlin takes a outswinging corner. John Spicer takes a shot. Grant Basey gets a block in.

51:26

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Michael Timlin played to the near post. John Spicer takes a shot. Blocked by Grant Basey.

50:56

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Anthony Stewart gets a block in.

50:25

Centre by Gavin Tomlin.

49:09

Dennis Oli fouled by Mark Phillips, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Spring.

48:40

Stuart Lewis takes a shot. Cameron Belford makes a save.

46:48

John Spicer takes a shot. Save made by Nikki Bull.

45:58

Matt Spring takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

45:43

Dennis Oli produces a cross.

45:02 Substitution

Substitution Jo Kuffour joins the action as a substitute, replacing Richard Logan.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:12 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:44

Stuart Lewis fouled by Gavin Tomlin, the ref awards a free kick. Nikki Bull takes the indirect free kick.

45:00 +1:14

John Spicer sends in a cross, clearance made by Grant Basey.

44:58

Centre by Anthony Straker.

42:52

Effort from inside the area by Anthony Straker misses to the right of the goal.

42:14

The official flags Britt Assombalonga offside. Free kick taken by Nikki Bull.

40:16

Ryan Leonard produces a cross, Gary Doherty makes a clearance.

39:19

Anthony Straker delivers the ball, Grant Basey makes a clearance.

36:55

The ball is delivered by Sean Clohessy, Nikki Bull makes a save. Corner taken by Michael Timlin, Effort from deep inside the area by Ryan Cresswell misses to the left of the target.

35:49

Inswinging corner taken by Grant Basey from the right by-line, clearance by Ryan Leonard.

34:25

Centre by Sean Clohessy, clearance by Matt Spring.

31:45

Unfair challenge on Stuart Lewis by Anthony Straker results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Matt Spring.

30:47

The ball is crossed by Gavin Tomlin, clearance made by Gary Doherty. Grant Basey fouled by Gavin Tomlin, the ref awards a free kick. Nikki Bull takes the indirect free kick.

27:36

Free kick taken by Grant Basey.

27:36 Substitution

Substitution (Southend) makes a substitution, with Anthony Straker coming on for Kevan Hurst.

27:36 Booking

Booking Matthew Parsons goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

27:25

Foul by Mark Phillips on Stuart Lewis, free kick awarded.

26:18

Matthew Parsons delivers the ball, Ryan Cresswell manages to make a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Matt Spring from the left by-line to the near post, Michael Timlin makes a clearance.

24:22

The ball is crossed by Gavin Tomlin, save made by Nikki Bull.

22:20

Shot from just outside the area by John Spicer misses to the left of the target.

20:54

Gavin Tomlin concedes a free kick for a foul on Grant Basey. Grant Basey takes the free kick.

19:08

Mark Phillips challenges Dennis Oli unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matt Spring takes the free kick.

18:42

Short corner worked by Gavin Tomlin.

16:39

Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst to the near post, Grant Basey makes a clearance.

16:08

Ryan Cresswell fouled by Dennis Oli, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the indirect free kick.

14:54

The official flags Britt Assombalonga offside. Indirect free kick taken by Nikki Bull.

14:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Spicer on Richard Logan. Nikki Bull takes the indirect free kick.

11:25

Kevan Hurst challenges Stuart Lewis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Thompson.

9:13

Britt Assombalonga is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Gary Doherty.

6:26

The assist for the goal came from Ryan Cresswell. Corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line, Nikki Bull makes a save.

6:26 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Southend 1 - 0 Wycombe Britt Assombalonga scores a headed goal from deep inside the penalty box. Southend 1-0 Wycombe.

5:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Grant Basey on Gavin Tomlin. Free kick crossed right-footed by Kevan Hurst, Anthony Stewart makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line,

3:30

Gavin Tomlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nikki Bull. Indirect free kick taken by Nikki Bull.

1:30

Dennis Oli produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

1:30

Effort on goal by Dennis Oli from inside the box misses to the right of the target.

0:11

The ball is crossed by Ryan Leonard. Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Anthony Stewart gets a block in. Free kick awarded for a foul by Joel Grant on Ryan Cresswell. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

0:11

The ball is delivered by Ryan Leonard. Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Anthony Stewart gets a block in. Foul by Joel Grant on Ryan Cresswell, free kick awarded. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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