Southend had goalkeeper Zach Jeacock and manager Kevin Maher sent off as they slipped to a 1-0 National League defeat at home to Yeovil.

It took 17 minutes for the hosts to produce the game’s first real effort on goal when Aribim Pepple saw his attempt to find the far corner deflected just wide.

Yeovil’s Kofi Shaw had an effort blocked at the end of a weaving run two minutes later, but the game changed with 27 minutes gone when Jeacock was dismissed for handling outside his area with Collin Andeng-Ndi taking over in goal.

Shrimpers boss Maher, who had earlier been booked, was shown a red card in first-half stoppage time after his side had seen penalty appeals waved away, and his mood would take a further turn for the worse.

The deadlock was finally broken with 65 minutes gone when James Plant curled the ball past Andeng-Ndi to win it.