Sutton came from behind to record a fine victory at Roots Hall and end a run of three consecutive defeats as well as inflicting Southend’s first home defeat of the season. After Southend had led from the 11th minute and had the better of the first half, the game turned on a piece of opportunism from Josh Coley, handed the captain’s armband as Tyler French began the game on the substitutes’ bench, who capitalised on a defensive misunderstanding to race away and equalise in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time. An own goal put Sutton in front early in the second half after which U’s were good value for the win that Ashley Nadesan confirmed fifteen minutes from time.

With French out of the starting eleven and Hayden Muller failing to recover from the injury that forced him off at Dagenham, U’s central defensive pairing was Harry Ransom and Chin Okoli, while Nadesan and Jayden Harris returned to the starting line-up in place of Siju Odelusi and Nana Boateng, and Harris had the first glimmer of a chance for U’s after a featureless start to the game when he flicked Charlie Waller’s cross goalwards but with insufficient power to beat home goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

A minute later, though, U’s were behind as Ransom’s clearance was blocked by Arabim Pepple, and Steve Arnold came outside his penalty area to clear only to direct the ball to Gus Scott-Morriss, who returned it first time from 35 yards in to the vacant net for his sixth goal in eight games. It was a disappointing start for Arnold on his return to Roots Hall, but he recovered to save from George Moncur’s low shot, and also produce an excellent stop with his legs to deny Pepple after Noor Husin had put him through. Pepple also caused Arnold to move smartly to keep the ball out when he again blocked a clearance, the ball rebounding goalwards and Arnold having to save low to his left to prevent a freak goal.

Pepple was also involved in a collision with Ryan Jackson that saw a five minute hold up, Jackson having to come off with a cut head to be replaced by French, while Pepple’s absence was only temporary as he returned wearing a head bandage. In the stoppage time that resulted Sutton, who had posed little threat to the home goal, suddenly had an equaliser as Adam Crowther and Harry Taylor dithered on the halfway line and Coley nipped in to take possession, run half the length of the pitch, round Andeng Ndi and fire in to the roof of the net.

Having unexpectedly gone in level, Sutton were in front within five minutes of the restart when Waller intercepted a clearance from Andeng Ndi, exchanged passes with Coley and whipped in a superb cross which evaded Will Davies but ended up in the net off Joe Gubbins, although the incoming Harris would surely have scored had the defender not intervened.

Southend’s reaction was a double substitution that saw Macauley Bonne and Keenan Appiah-Forson brought on, and the latter was a lively presence for the last half hour. Bonne and Moncur both sent efforts too high, but there was a real threat from Sutton on the break and Taylor had to get across to divert a Coley shot away for a corner. Fifteen minutes from time U’s had a two goal cushion as Simper powered forward from midfield before playing in the tireless Davies on the left, and his low cross was turned high in to the net at the far post by Nadesan.

Sutton should have had another soon afterwards when substitute Jeremy Sivi burst down the left but shot across goal and wide, leaving both Davies and Harris unimpressed with the lack of a pass, but the two goal margin proved enough, Bonne missing a great chance to make stoppage time uncomfortable for U’s when he volleyed weakly straight at Arnold from close range.

Sutton: S Arnold, R Jackson (sub T French 37), C Okoli, C Waller, H Ransom, F Barbrook(sub S Odelusi 70), J Coley(sub J Sivi 74), L Simper, W Davies, A Nadesan (sub M Rush 84), J Harris. Subs n/u J Sims, E Vaz, N Boateng. Booked: Ransom, Coley, French, Harris, Waller.

Southend: C Andeng Ndi, G Scott Morriss, N Ralph, J Gubbins(sub M Bonne 57), A Crowther, H Taylor, J Bridge, N Husin, A Pepple(sub J Wood 76), G Moncur, J Morton(sub K Appiah-Forson 57). Subs n/u J Hillson, G Wind, M Faulkner, B McDonald. Booked: Husin, Scott-Morriss.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 7,179(292 away)

Click here to hear Steve Morison’s view on the game

Click here for a post match interview with Will Davies