FOOTBALL: SMALL FRY

SOUTHEND boss Steve Tilson admitted his team got what they deserved as their promotion hopes suffered another jolt with this surprise defeat.

Leon Constantine struck his second goal for injury-ravaged Vale since joining on loan from League Two basement club Torquay as Southend crumbled to their third straight defeat.

It's another huge blow for the Shrimpers after their fine start to the season.

They hang on to third place in the table, however, after in-form Chesterfield were held to a draw at home to Blackpool.

Tilson admitted: "We weren't at the races and I'm disappointed. Port Vale out-worked us and we never got to grips with the game until it was too late.

"We pulled one back but it would have been an injustice if we had scored again because Vale deserved to win."

Wayne Gray headed Kevin Maher's free kick against a post as Southend made an encouraging start to the match - but Vale soon got the upper hand.

Constantine headed home the opening goal from Michael Husbands' right-wing cross after 18 minutes.

And Husbands added a second for Vale after 54 minutes when he latched on to a pass from Jeff Smith.

At the other end, Jay Smith went close with an overhead kick before heading home what proved no more than a mere consolation goal for Southend in the last minute.

Vale manager Martin Foyle was delighted with the win, bearing in mind the club's lengthy injury list - and the exit of star players Sam Collins and Billy Paynter to Hull on loan.

The Vale supporters had voiced their dismay at some poor performances, culminating in last week's LDV Vans Trophy exit at the hands of Hereford.

But Foyle said: "In the circumstances I think we are doing well.

"And I'm delighted the players have shut a few people up. We have won five, drawn two and lost four of our last 11 games and I don't think that's bad at all.

"We have been soldiering on and it hasn't been easy.

"I've made some changes today and I could not have been more pleased with the reaction.

"Every single one of the players have performed well and that's all we can ask for.

"We dominated for more than 75 minutes.

"We kept the ball much better than we had done and we played higher up the pitch."

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