SOUTHEND UNITED 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Manager Richie Wellens made no excuses as Oldham Athletic lost at Southend United in Sky Bet League One.
“We didn’t deserve anything as Southend were the better side,” conceded Wellens who added it was the first time in 13 games in charge that his side didn’t deserve anything as they were second best.
A goal in each half from Jason Demetriou and Josh Wright sealed victory for the Shrimpers and Latics even missed a penalty through Craig Davies.
Wellens made one change to the side which drew with Gillingham last weekend.
Captain Peter Clarke came back into the side to replace Anthony Gerrard who missed the game through suspension.
Latics started the brightly as striker Eoin Doyle fired over in the opening 45 seconds from the edge of the box.
Southend gradually worked their way into the game and were awarded a penalty after 16 minutes.
Cameron Dummigan was adjudged to have fouled Wright and Demetriou sent goalkeeper Johny Placide the wrong way to give the Shrimpers the lead.
Chances for both sides followed as Queensy Menig sliced a shot wide while at the other end, full back Stephen Hendrie fired wide from 25 yards.
On the half hour, the home side should have doubled their lead as Hendrie’s cross found Ryan Leonard six yards from goal, but he headed wide.
Southend went close again when Michael Turner’s long ball was controlled in the penalty area by Marc-Antoine Fortune but his strike from 12 yards was deflected by Clarke.
Latics were given a golden opportunity to equalise as they were awarded a penalty five minutes before the end of the half.
Hunt was fouled by Demetriou, Davies stepped up but goalkeeper Mark Oxley guessed right and saved his powerful strike.
Jack Byrne fired over in the opening minute of the second half from 30 yards, while five minutes later, he found Davies with a long ball but he was unable to cut it back to Doyle in the centre.
Latics would come to rue those chances as Southend doubled their lead after 54 minutes.
Fortune broke and fed Stephen McLaughlin who crossed to Wright at the back post and his controlled volley found the far corner.
Wellens made chances and brought on Gevaro Nepomuceno and Brian Wilson and that did caused Southend problems.
On the hour, a surging run and shot from Ousmane Fane was deflected wide as Latics continued to come forward.
After Demetriou fired wide from inside the penalty area, Wellens rolled his last throw of the dice and brought on Tope Obadeyi and he made an immediate impact.
His cross from the left found striker Doyle unmarked in the penalty area but he headed wide from six yards.
Gevaro Nepomuceno was a handful on the left and after 82 minutes he fired a ball across the face of goal and it appeared to hit a Southend hand but the referee was unmoved.
Two minutes later, the winger crossed with his weaker right foot and picked out Doyle but this time the striker headed against the post from six yards.
That was the best it got for Latics as they had a day to forget at Roots Hall.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Placide; Dummigan, Clarke (Wilson 60), Bryan, Hunt; Menig (Nepomuceno 57), Fane, Gardner, Byrne (Obadeyi 72); Davies, Doyle. Subs (not used): Wilson, Omrani, Flynn, Green.
Goals: Demetriou (17), Wright (54) for Oldham Athletic.
Attendance: 5,841 (233 visitors).