SIMON Cox helped Southend United dish out a Christmas stuffing to AFC Wimbledon at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers striker bagged two goals in Phil Brown side’s 3-0 win against the Dons.

And, with Will Atkinson also on target, Blues extended their unbeaten run in League One to 11 matches to surge into the play-offs.

The visitors - who started the day just below in-form Southend in the standings - had striker Lyle Taylor sent off midway through the second half while their manager Neal Ardley was also ordered from the dug-out by referee Lee Collins.

But, despite their eventual disappointment, the visitors came close to taking an early lead when a poor defensive header from Anton Ferdinand sent Dominic Poleon clean through on goal.

However, the striker - who was in the Shrimpers’ youth set up as a youngster - saw his low shot impressively blocked by the legs of the recalled Ted Smith.

After surviving the scare, Blues hit back and opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with Cox on target.

The striker reacted sharply inside the penalty area following a long right wing throw from Ryan Leonard and smashed a rising effort into the roof of the net from close range.

Moments later, Cox came close to doubling Blues’ lead when he raced onto a deflected shot from Marc-Antoine Fortune and sent an effort against the top of the crossbar.

But, with the Shrimpers remaining on top, Jason Demetriou soon charged through and sent a left footed shot into the grateful gloves of visiting goalkeeper James Shea before Atkinson fired over when well placed in front of goal.

However, Atkinson was far more clinical four minutes before the break as the midfielder bagged his fourth goal of the season.

The midfielder was teed up in fine fashion by Fortune and netted with an accurate low, left footed shot which nestled in the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Wimbledon made two changes at the break with ex Blues loanee Tyrone Barnett and local lad Andy Barcham both entering the action.

They helped the Dons start the second half strongly and the visitors came close to scoring when Tom Elliott’s close range header was superbly saved to his left hand side by Smith.

However, Wimbledon were unable to make their period of pressure count and they suffered a further blow in the 72nd minute when ex Concord striker Taylor was shown a second yellow card after a foul on Ferdinand.

Dons boss Neal Ardley was ordered from the dug-out shortly after the forward’s dismissal and the Shrimpers soon began to get back on top.

Stephen McLaughlin saw a long range shot parried away by Shea before Blues sealed their win in the 84th minute when Cox raced onto Fortune’s pass and netted with a brilliantly taken chip.