Southend inflicted a crushing defeat on visitors Hull City, despite being reduced to ten men just before the break.
All three goals in this one-sided affair came before the break, with Jay Smith's brace and Mark Rawle doing the damage.
Smith broke the deadlock with a long-range strike in the 22nd minute after being set up by Tes Bramble.
Four minutes before half time Rawle doubled the Shrimpers advantage, latching on to a weak back header from Carl Regan and slotting the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Alan Fettis' goal.
United were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time when Andy Holt brought down Daniel Marney, but there was more drama before the kick could be taken.
The Tigers Marc Joseph fell to the ground following an altercation with Bramble, and the Shrimpers player was shown a red card for an alleged head butt.
But Smith remained calm and struck the penalty coolly past Fettis.
The unimpressive Tigers failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage after the break, despite manager Peter Taylor's attack-minded tactical changes.
Jamie Forrester and Regan both went close for the visitors, but United refused to be penned back and both Marney and Steven Clark saw shots blocked by Fettis.
In the final minute Darryl Flahavan saved a well-struck Damien Delaney free-kick and the Tigers went home empty handed.
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