Crawley 0-3 Southend: Three and easy for Shrimpers

Joe Pigott scored twice and Myles Weston hit the other as three-times runners-up Southend gained a comfortable 3-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory at Crawley.

The defeat leaves Crawley without a win in any of their seven home games so far this season, and they have only scored one goal.

Crawley boss Mark Yates called up goalkeeper Callum Preston for his Red Devils debut and he touched a goal-bound shot from Anthony Wordsworth around the post in only the fifth minute.

Preston again came to Crawley's rescue by superbly tipping over a dipping left-footed effort by Myles Weston.

Crawley threatened when a dangerous cross by Gwion Edwards found Luke Rooney but his deflected shot was saved by Dan Bentley.

Weston struck to put Southend in front after 26 minutes by latching onto a through-ball from Wordsworth to fire a low shot passed the stranded Preston.

Striker Joe Pigott doubled the advantage 12 minutes later with a deflected shot after good work from Ben Coker.

Coker spared team-mate Gary Deegan's blushes 10 minutes after the break with a goal-line clearance to prevent an own goal.

Crawley improved after the break and substitute Lewis Young put a free-kick over before a shot by Roarie Deacon was saved by Bentley.

But Pigott sealed Southend's handsome victory three minutes from time by firing into the roof of the net from close range.