Having lost their opening two fixtures of the season, the Essex club are rooted to the bottom of the table. They had the misfortune of losing by three goals to one at home to Gillingham on the opening day, before being defeated by the same score-line, and to the same opponents four days later in the League Cup. Last Saturday they lost 2-0 at Port Vale.
Substitute Anton Forrester scored one goal and set up another as Port Vale secured a 2-0 win over Southend at Vale Park. The 22-year-old, brought in on a free this summer, headed in his first goal for the Valiants just before the break to consign the Shrimpers to a club-record eighth straight defeat in all competitions. Forrester then set up Remie Streete to double Vale's advantage after the break with a powerful effort.
Coming on for the injured Rigino Cicilia, Forrester put Vale ahead in the 40th minute, out-jumping Jakub Sokolik to meet Sam Foley's cross and guide a header past Mark Oxley. Three minutes earlier, Southend had almost taken the lead when a combination of Jak Alnwick and the crossbar kept out Simon Cox's header from point-blank range.
Defender Nathan Smith almost gifted the away side an equaliser after 46 minutes when David Mooney's header cannoned off his legs before hitting a post. Forrester then turned provider in the 76th minute, playing in defender Streete, who fired the ball home from just outside the six-yard-box.
Shrimpers boss Phil Brown is unlikely to be without striker Nile Ranger who is being assessed for a groin injury. He has yet to make his debut since signing during the summer as replacement for Jack Payne (whom joined Huddersfield Town). Meanwhile they will be without Michael Timlin (hamstring), and Abdul Salami (head) who sustained his injury in last weekend's defeat.
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