Southend earned a fine victory at Rotherham with two goals from Britt Assombalonga and one from David Martin.

Southend opened the scoring when Martin's cross was headed in from just under the crossbar by Assombalonga.

Assombalonga grabbed his second after brushing aside the challenge of Ian Sharps before firing into the top corner for his ninth goal this season.

Assombalonga's shot was then touched on to the crossbar by Scott Shearer and Martin headed home the rebound.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rotherham United assistant manager Paul Raynor told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"After that performance I can find no positives if I'm honest.

"Sometimes it's easy to find positives in games, I can't find one.

"We were disjointed. There seemed to be a lack of desire, lack of passion and we got beaten at our own game.

"Southend were excellent, they worked hard. Even their gifted players worked really hard for their team."

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"We've got some quality players, they've kept shape, which has been vitally important and the front two have caused mayhem.

"We've re-structured this team, it took a while for them to settle but now they are learning what the story is.

"Britt is so keen to do well, he wants to score goals, he wants to learn. He comes and asks questions about the game, where he should be in relation to where the ball is.

"I've never really had a player like that, who is so desperate to learn the game."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Rotherham United

  • 01 Shearer
  • 05 Sharps
  • 18 Hunt
  • 20 Morgan
  • 23 Harris
  • 07 Ainsworth (Nardiello - 46' )
  • 08 Taylor
  • 10 O'Connor
  • 11 Evans (Noble - 64' )
  • 15 Pringle
  • 16 Odejayi (Denton - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Warrington
  • 02 Tonge
  • 25 Denton
  • 14 Bradley
  • 19 Noble
  • 17 Nardiello
  • 22 Agard

Southend United

  • 01 Smith
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Straker
  • 06 Cresswell (Coughlan - 81' )
  • 18 Leonard
  • 23 Barker
  • 08 Timlin
  • 11 Martin
  • 14 Hurst
  • 20 Assombalonga (Clarke-Harris - 87' )
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 17 Bentley
  • 05 Coughlan
  • 22 Paxnan
  • 30 Woodyard
  • 07 Eastwood
  • 12 Clarke-Harris
  • 24 Benyon
Ref: Harrington
Att: 7,328

Match Stats

Shots

12 8

On target

4 3

Corners

5 7

Fouls

4 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:32 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:05

Daniel Nardiello takes a shot.

90:00 +2:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Martin on Jason Taylor. Nicky Hunt takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +2:17

Michael O'Connor takes a shot. Save made by Paul Smith.

90:00 +1:39

Outswinging corner taken by David Noble, clearance by Ryan Leonard.

90:00 +0:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Graham Coughlan by Alec Denton. Paul Smith takes the free kick.

85:56 Substitution

Substitution Jonson Clarke-Harris is brought on as a substitute for Britt Assombalonga.

85:56

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kevan Hurst.

83:49

Shot from just outside the box by Britt Assombalonga goes over the crossbar.

82:43

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ben Pringle.

79:56 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Cresswell goes off and Graham Coughlan comes on.

77:17

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot.

74:47

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor.

74:47

Inswinging corner taken by Michael O'Connor from the left by-line.

74:23

Jason Taylor takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.

71:57 Goal scored

Goal - David Martin - Rotherham 0 - 3 Southend David Martin scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Rotherham 0-3 Southend.

70:01

David Martin crosses the ball.

69:12

Close range shot by Britt Assombalonga misses to the left of the goal.

65:47

The ball is crossed by David Noble, Ryan Cresswell manages to make a clearance.

64:31

Sean Clohessy provided the assist for the goal.

64:31 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Rotherham 0 - 2 Southend A goal is scored by Britt Assombalonga from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Rotherham 0-2 Southend.

63:04 Substitution

Substitution David Noble comes on in place of Gareth Evans.

60:34

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Michael O'Connor.

60:10

Gavin Tomlin is penalised for a handball. Direct free kick taken by Michael O'Connor.

59:25

Corner taken by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line to the near post, Britt Assombalonga challenges Scott Shearer unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Shearer takes the indirect free kick.

59:11

Centre by Sean Clohessy.

57:59

Britt Assombalonga fouled by Jason Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Cresswell.

56:12 Substitution

Substitution Alec Denton on for Kayode Odejayi.

55:51

Right-footed shot by Ryan Leonard went wide left of the net.

52:20

The offside flag is raised against Britt Assombalonga. Scott Shearer restarts play with the free kick.

50:55

David Martin provided the assist for the goal.

50:55 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Rotherham 0 - 1 Southend Britt Assombalonga finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Rotherham 0-1 Southend.

50:55

Kevan Hurst sends in a cross,

48:00

Gavin Tomlin sends in a cross, clearance made by Craig Morgan.

47:13

Shot from just outside the box by Michael O'Connor goes over the bar.

46:48

Gareth Evans takes a shot.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Nardiello joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lionel Ainsworth.

45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

44:17

The ball is sent over by Gavin Tomlin, free kick awarded for a foul by Britt Assombalonga on Robert Harris. Free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

42:51

Corner taken by Kevan Hurst played to the near post, clearance made by Jason Taylor.

41:54

Kevan Hurst decides to take the corner short.

41:35

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Paul Smith gets a block in.

39:56

Kayode Odejayi is caught offside. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

37:46

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Robert Harris misses to the left of the target.

35:06

Chris Barker concedes a free kick for a foul on Kayode Odejayi. Nicky Hunt restarts play with the free kick.

33:08

Britt Assombalonga fouled by Ian Sharps, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Barker restarts play with the free kick.

31:04

Britt Assombalonga is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

30:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Britt Assombalonga by Craig Morgan. Free kick crossed by Kevan Hurst.

26:50

A cross is delivered by David Martin.

25:28

Gareth Evans crosses the ball, clearance made by Anthony Straker.

25:06

Foul by Michael Timlin on Ben Pringle, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ian Sharps.

24:17

Effort on goal by Ben Pringle from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

23:48

The ball is swung over by Ben Pringle, clearance by Ryan Cresswell.

23:02

Shot by Gareth Evans. Save by Paul Smith.

21:03

Britt Assombalonga is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Shearer.

20:21

Ben Pringle takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.

18:37

The assistant referee signals for offside against Kayode Odejayi. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

15:24

Effort on goal by Gareth Evans from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

14:44

Outswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst, clearance made by Jason Taylor.

14:22

A cross is delivered by David Martin, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

12:14

Corner from the right by-line taken by Michael O'Connor, Headed effort on goal by Ian Sharps from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

10:16

Effort from the edge of the box by Lionel Ainsworth goes wide of the left-hand post.

8:06

The ball is sent over by Sean Clohessy, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

1:13

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line, Effort from outside the area by Michael Timlin goes wide right of the goal.

0:52

Inswinging corner taken by Kevan Hurst, save by Scott Shearer.

0:37

Centre by Ryan Leonard.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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