SOUTHEND United slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Altrincham this afternoon.

The Robins piled on the pressure during the opening 45 minutes and condemned the Shrimpers to a third straight to defeat thanks to goals from Joe Nuttall and Alex Newby.

Despite the one-sided nature of the first half, Blues threatened early on with Bim Pepple curling a 20 yard shot just inches wide of the left post before the hosts hit back with Eddy Jones having a low, left footed effort easily smothered by Southend goalkeeper Zach Jeacock.

But the hosts were not to be denied for long and opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Elliot Osborne played Matty Kosylo running into the penalty area.

Kosylo slipped while under pressure from the advancing Jeacock before Alex Newby rolled the ball into the path of Nuttall who fired home from close range.

The Robins soon came close to making it 2-0 with the in-form Regan Linney having a well-struck shot blocked by Jeacock who then recovered well to also keep out the forward’s follow up effort.

With Altrincham continuing to threaten, Jones saw a goalbound effort blocked by Harry Taylor before the hosts threatened again in the 19th minute with Newby turning his way past Adam Crowther before seeing his shot saved by Jeacock.

Moments later, Jeacock also kept out a low shot from Linney but, after surviving the scares, Blues came close to equalising in the 37th minute when a quickly taken free-kick sent Pepple running into the left hand side of the penalty area before he slammed a left footed shot against the top of the crossbar.

But Altrincham stood strong and doubled their lead just three minutes before the break when Linney cut in down the left hand side before teeing up Newby whose low, left footed shot squirmed under the body of Jeacock to double the home-side’s lead.

After the break, Linney flashes a well struck shot across the face of goal before Jones fired wide of the right post when well placed on the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts soon threatened again with Elliot Osbourne slamming a deflected long range shot against the crossbar and, just past the hour mark the hosts had shouts for a penalty waved away when Linney went to ground in the area after clashing with Harry Taylor.

The Shrimpers responded with a double change in the 64th minute with Macauley Bonne taking the place of Josh Walker up top and Keenan Appiah-Forson replacing George Moncur in midfield.

After the changes, Pepple saw a low shot smartly saved by Harvey Randle down to his right hand side before Blues made a third change in the 75th minute with Jack Wood replacing Noor Husin.

A further alteration soon followed with James Morton replacing Cav Miley in midfield but the Shrimpers were unable to breach Altrincham’s defence and now sit 16th in the National League standings.