Saints earned their first success on the road this season with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 win at a rain soaked Roots Hall.

Adam Lallana struck twice to add to Neal Trotman's first goal for the club since joining on loan from Preston North End, as all four goals in the match came during the first half in Essex.

The punishing nature of Saints' finishing in the first half allowed Alan Pardew's side to soak up the pressure from the hosts in the second period, but the visitors still carried a dangerous goal threat going forward and were unlucky not to add to their advantage.

Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Barrett, Grant, McCormack (Christophe 85), Friend, Laurent (O"Donovan 78), Sankofa, Moussa, Freedman (Sawyer 67), Barnard. Subs: Herd, O'Keefe, Joyce.

Saints: Davis, Harding, Jaidi, Trotman, James, Wotton (Perry 85), Hammond, Schneiderlin (Mills 90), Lallana, N'Diaye (Antonio 76), Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski, Thomas, Saganowski, Connolly.

Referee: Grant Hegley.

Attendance: 8,281 (including 1,050 away)

The hosts got proceedings underway at a wet Roots Hall with Saints defending the goal in front of the impressive traveling support.

The conditions underfoot were exposed as early as the third minute as Lloyd James scuffed a shot wide of the right which took plenty of standing water with it.

Saints were in front moments later though, as a fifth minute corner caused havoc inside the Shrimpers area. James' short pass to Papa Waigo saw the Senegalese forward send in a deep cross which Lambert headed down, and Neal Trotman slid in to finish from close range to make it 1-0 with his first goal for the club.

The home side protested against an infringement but to no avail as Alan Pardew's side celebrated an early lead.

Southend forced their first corner on 12 minutes and from the resulting clearance N'Diaye sped away on the right hand side and found Lallana, who would have fancied his chances to score but had two attempts kept out by Steve Mildenhall.

On 16, winger Francis Laurent cut inside on the right and struck a firm low shot just wide of Davis' post for the hosts' first real attempt at goal.

Five minutes later, as the rain started to fall again, midfielder Alan McCormack cleared the bar and the stand with a drive from distance before Davis was alert to keep out Adam Barrett's shot.

Southend were back on level terms on 26 minutes after Dan Harding had conceded a free-kick on the right hand side of the area which he was booked for by referee Grant Hegley. Left back George Friend stepped up to send a curling effort into the top right of Davis' goal off the underside of the crossbar to square things up.

Just past the half hour mark, the visitors were back in front after another Lloyd James delivery from a corner on the right. The set piece was only partially cleared as far as Schneiderlin who struck a firm goalbound shot, which cannoned into the back off the net off Lallana to restore Saints' advantage.

Ten minutes before the break Laurent lost his footing inside the area after being put through by Moussa, who had shown some neat footwork to create the space for the midfielder.

Two minutes before the break James whipped in a dangerous looking free-kick on the left which Lambert couldn't quite make a connection with as Mildenhall gathered.

A corner at the other end eventually found its way to Moussa who fired wide in an attempt to level the scores once more.

On the stroke of 45 minutes Saints extended their lead as Lambert flicked the ball on from Davis' goal kick and Lallana kept his composure to finish from 12 yards out into the bottom corner for 3-1.

Half Time: Southend 1-3 Saints

A competitive start to the second half saw the visitors get the first shot off as Barrett headed a Friend free-kick from the left over Davis' bar.

Schneiderlin tried to force his way into the Shrimpers area on 53 and was felled by a combination of challenges, but Mr. Hegley saw the Frenchman's fall to the ground as an attempt to con him into giving a penalty so the 19 year-old was cautioned.

The match progressed into more of a midfield battle as McCormack struck another drive from distance which flew wide of Davis' right post.

On 65 Papa Waigo was unfortunate not find the target as he controlled a slippery pass under his feet inside the area before shooting low, only to be denied by the covering defenders sliding in ahead of Mildenhall.

With quarter of an hour left to play Alan Pardew withdrew Papa Waigo to give Michail Antonio another run out following his arrival earlier in the week.

On 76 Dan Harding managed to squirm the ball off the line at the far post to deny a goalbound header from eight yards out as the hosts continued to search in vain for a way back into the game.

Inside the last ten minutes of play Michail Antonio went on a menacing looking run towards the Shrimpers' penalty area only to be forced off the ball a little heavy handedly, although that was not the case according to the official.

Chris Perry replaced Paul Wotton on 85 and slotted into a deep role just in front of the back line in a bid to see the match out. Antonio was fouled on the right as the clock started to run down.

Mills replaced Schneiderlin as Saints held the ball up comfortably in their opponents' half to secure the victory.

Full Time: Southend 1-3 Saints