Southend United amassed another vital three points on the road, after securing a 1-0 win at Swindon Town.

It was a result that helped the Blues consolidate fifth spot in League One, as they continued to back up their promotion ambitions by maintaining an unbeaten run, which now stretches to eight games.

Swindon were first on the attack with Barry Corr the quickest to react inside the box, as he met Craig Easton's right wing cross to plant a header straight at Darryl Flahavan.

Southend gradually began to crank up the pressure, but with nothing clear-cut presented in their favour, Simon Francis saw fit to successfully try his luck from long range to break the deadlock.

Francis cut in from the right flank and positioned 20 yards out, he arrowed a left-foot shot that deflected off Hasney Aljofree and flew into the roof of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

It came inside 19 minutes and was the full-backs' third goal of the campaign, as the Blues looked good value for their lead on the road.

Swindon did respond with Corr flashing a free header from Michael Timlin's corner just past the post, but Southend's grip on the first half was strong.

Impressive work by Mark Gower on the left allowed him to beat his man and supply a dangerous cross that saw Hal Robson-Kanu at full stretch, as he just missed out on connecting with the ball in front of goal.

After the interval, Anthony McNamee came close to equalising for the hosts, as he jinxed his way into space outside the box to execute a fierce strike that sailed narrowly wide of the target.

But with the Southend fans in rampant voice, the team looked to duplicate such commitment on the pitch to find the decisive second goal.

Robson-Kanu and Alan McCormack exchanged passes to present the Irishman with a great chance to seize such an initiative, but he was unable to keep the ball down and blazed over.

James Walker had another sight of goal, as the young striker roamed forward, but from a tight angle, goalkeeper Peter Brezovan stood tall to make a blocked save with his body and push the ball behind.

Lee Barnard entered the fray just past the hour mark and the impetus remained in Southend's favour, as he became the latest player to be denied when Brezovan used his legs to keep out his snap shot.

Such profligate finishing though was nearly punished with former Southend striker Billy Paynter twice finding himself in golden positions to score.

Paynter was initially picked out inside the box for a powerful strike that was brilliantly cleared off the line by the interventions of Peter Clarke, before he was found in a similar position, but contrived to volley the ball over the top.

Swindon provided another late scare when Lee Peacock screwed a low shot wide from in front of goal, but the Blues held out to net a deserved victory at the top end of the table.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Black (Grant 85), McCormack, Bailey, Gower, Robson-Kanu (Barnard 66), Walker.

Swindon: Brezovan, Smith, Ifil, Easton, Corr (Paynter 44), McGovern (Zaaboub 71), Comminges, Aljofree, Timlin (Peacock 46), McNamee, Cox.