Southend 0 Town 1 - Report and pictures

Nathaniel Knight-Percival's classic downward header in the 56th minute separated the sides to clinch their second successive away victory in eight days.

But Shrewsbury were easily the best team throughout and dominated proceedings apart from a five-minute period shortly after half-time.

Liam Lawrence, Jordan Clark, Matt Tootle, Jermaine Grandison and Larnell Cole (twice) had half chances in the first-half.

Substitutes Jean Louis Akpa Akpro and James Collins were also superbly denied by goalkeeper Daniel Bentley near the end.

In arguably their best league performance of the season, Tyrone Barnett and Knight-Percival were superb at either end of the pitch.

Southend (4-4-2): Bentley; White, Rea, Barrett, Coker (Payne 66); Worrall, Leonard, Wordsworth, Timlin (McLaughlin 60); Mooney, Hunt (Pigott 76).

Subs not used: Bolger, Deegan, O'Neill, Smith (gk).

Town (3-5-1-1): Leutwiler; Ellis, Grandison, Knight-Percival; Tootle, Lawrence, Ogogo, Cole (Collins 87), Sadler; Clark; Barnett (Akpa Akpro 82).

Subs not used: Whalley, McAlinden, McKnight, Patterson, Halstead (gk).

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northants).

Town made two changes to the side that picked up their first league win of the season the previous weekend at Barnsley.

Mat Sadler and Cole replaced the hamstrung Junior Brown at left wing back and central midfielder James Wesolowski, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with damaged cruciate ligaments.

Cole, who also replaced Wesolowski at Oakwell, was making his full debut for Town after joining on loan from Fulham.

Sadler was making his first start since the 1-0 home defeat to Burton Albion two games ago, although he came on as sub in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win against Oldham.

Town, wearing their 'Argentina' style change kit, were the best side in the first half but failed to convert their territorial advantage and chances into goals.

Led by a terrific performance from lone striker Barnett, who was flanked by the lively Cole towards the right and Clark to the left, the fluid-looking visitors created numerous half chances.

Captain Lawrence had the first in the opening minute when he let fly from 25 yards but his low drive flew well wide.

Clark, looking to add to his match-winning heroics after Barnsley last week, was next to try his luck in the fourth minute but his shot on the turn flew high over the bar, after Barnett helped the ball on.

Shrewsbury settled quickest and looked bright, wing-back Tootle side-footing well over after Barnett worked a Sadler throw-in across the box on 10.

Town looked to keep up the pressure and Grandison headed well wide from a Lawrence corner in the 19th minute.

Two minutes later, Grandison was at fault when he allowed a long ball to go by him and in doing so, let in Noel Hunt, but Knight-Percival was onto the danger in a flash and earned a booking for taking him out.

A minute later, Town returned to the attack with their best effort to date.

Cole, who looked increasingly lively as the half wore on, latched onto a Sadler throw-in and volleyed a foot over Bentley's bar from the edge of the box.

Cole was also the dangerman in the next chance, his intelligent run found by Tootle's sliderule pass in the box only to lash over fiercely from a tight angle.

Barnett was a real thorn in the side of Southend's defence and he showed just why in the 37th minute.

Dispossessing Ben Coker on the halfway line, he then beat Glenn Rea and raced down the right, but just as he unleashed a low angled drive, John White sped across to block.

Town weren't finished and from the resulting corner swung in by Lawrence, Knight-Percival rose highest through a crowd of players to glance just wide.

If Town were on top in the first half, the start of the second initially suggested it was going to be all Southend.

The Shrimpers, no doubt given a rollicking by boss Phil Brown, looked a different outfit.

Adam Barrett wasn't far away with a shot on the turn from 15 yards after Town failed to clear David Worrall's corner on 49 minutes.

Southend continued to take the game to Town and a minute later Anthony Wordsworth clipped his shot narrowly over from 20 yards, after Hunt pulled it back from the left.

Within 60 seconds Hunt found Worrall in acres of space on the right but Knight-Percival did superbly to snuff out the danger, blocking the shot before Mark Ellis got a head to the loose ball and Grandison booted clear.

A foul by Rea on Clark on the Town left - which earned the Southend on-loan defender a booking - was the prelude to the visitors taking the lead.

Lawrence swung in the free kick and Knight-Percival steamed in unmarked to power home a downward header into the bottom corner of the net, giving star keeper Daniel Bentley no chance.

The goal may have come against the run of play but it was very much deserved after Town's dominant first-half performance.

Southend introduced Stephen McLaughlin for Michael Timlin on the hour then Jack Payne for Coker six minutes, as Brown tried to shake things up.

But, if anything, the home side struggled even more as the game went on.

Town brought on Jean Louis Akpa Akpro for the tireless Barnett on 82 and within seconds the Frenchman was booked for kicking the ball away when he was caught offside.

Mellon made a second change when James Collins replaced the impressive Cole, who can be pleased with his full debut after showing quick feet running at the defence.

And the subs could have scored a couple of goals as Town hit Southend on the break at the death. Akpa Akpro's shot was deflected into the side-netting by Bentley on 89.

Then the Frenchman ran through for a one on one in the first minute of time added on only for the goalkeeper to make a fine save, then parrying Collins's follow-up.

Town couldn't add to their lead but there was no doubting their superiority.