A goal in both halves sealed a 2-0 win for Southend United over Oldham Athletic at Roots Hall.
Jason Demetriou put the Shrimers ahead from the penalty spot as Cameron Dummigan was adjudged to have fouled Josh Wright in the penalty box.
He sent Johny Placide the wrong way to put Southend ahead, however, Latics had a perfect opportunity to equalise on 40 minutes.
Rob Hunt was fouled in the penalty area but Craig Davies’ spot kick was excellently saved by former Latics loanee, Mark Oxley.
Wright got himself on the scoresheet early in the second half to secure the 2-0 in for the home side as Latics returned north pointless.
Manager Richie 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 did start the brightly of the two sides as striker Eoin Doyle fired over in the opening 45 seconds of the game from the edge of the box.
Doyle again was amongst the action as he found Hunt on the left and he crossed to Davies at the back post but it was just ahead of him.
Southend started to come back into the game and was awarded a penalty on 16 minutes.
Dummigan was adjudged to have fouled Wright in the penalty area and Demetriou sent goalkeeper Placide the wrong way to give the Shrimpers the lead.
Chances for both sides followed as Queensy Menig sliced a shot wide whilst at the other end, full back Stephen Hendrie fired wide from 25 yards.
On the half hour mark, the home side should have doubled their lead as Hendrie’s cross found Ryan Leonard six yards from goal but he headed wide.
Southend continued to attack and again went closest to scoring. 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 inside the penalty area by Demetriou, Davies stepped up but goalkeeper Oxley guessed right and saved his powerful strike.
The home side were forced into a change before the half concluded as Anthony Wordsworth replaced Michael Kightly.
Byrne struck over in the opening minute of the second half from 30 yards, whilst 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 on 54 minutes.
Fortune managed to break with the ball, he 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 cause Southend problems.
On the hour mark, a surging run and shot from Ousmane Fane had to be deflected wide as Latics continued to come forward.
After Demetriou fired wide fro 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.
Nepomuceno proved to be a handful on the left hand side and on 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 suffered a day to forget at Roots Hall.
Southend United: Oxley, Hendrie, Ferdinand, Turner, Kightly (Wordsworth 45+1’), Fortune, Cox (Ba 83’), McLaughlin, Leonard, Demetriou, Wright.
Subs not used: Bishop, Yearwood, McGlashan, White, Ranger.
Oldham Athletic: 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: Southend United (Demetriou 17’, Wright 54’) 2-0 Oldham Athletic
Attendance: 5,841 (233 visiting supporters)