Southend 3-0 Coventry Barnett brace culls Coventry

Tyrone Barnett bagged a brace as Southend United surged to a 3-0 win against Coventry City at Roots Hall.

Barnett's double came after Jack Payne had fired the Shrimpers in front.

And Phil Brown's side were able to get back to winning ways despite playing the final 39 minutes of the match with 10 men after Gary Deegan was dismissed.

Stephen and Noel Hunt came face to face for the first time as professionals in the game but it was Noel who was left to celebrate a convincing victory. 

Coventry came close to opening the scoring early on when Jim O'Brien's long-range effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

But Southend went in front in the 24th minute when Payne drilled a low, left-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Six minutes later, Barnett doubled Southend's lead with a fine left-footed finish after an excellent through ball from Stephen Hendrie.

However, the Shrimpers' hopes of a win were hampered in the 51st minute when Deegan was shown a second yellow card after chopping down James Maddison.

But Southend stayed on top and completed the scoring in the 68th minute when Barnett thundered home a penalty after Will Atkinson had been brought down by Coventry goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook.