Southend continued to show the needed appetite in their battle to return to the top six of League One after a resounding 3-0 win at Yeovil Town.

Goals from Lee Barnard, Peter Clarke and Mark Gower set the Blues up perfectly on the road towards gaining three points that climbs them up to seventh in the standings and only two points outside the play-offs.

A swift attack from Yeovil in the opening 10 minutes nearly resulted in first blood, as Marvin Williams met Liam Bridcutt's teasing cross from the right, but rifled wide of the post from just 10 yards out.

Having been on the backfoot and forced to soak up early pressure, the Blues hit back in emphatic style when countering on the break in the 20^th minute.

Alan McCormack released Tommy Black down the right and the fleet-footed winger delivered a perfect centre for Barnard to coolly volley in his fourth goal for the club at the far post.

A rasping drive from Gower outside the penalty box narrowly looped wide of the post, as Southend began to settle in their stride.

James Walker twisted and turned his way inside the box before lining up a goalbound shot that was stopped in its tracks via a deflection, but landed near the goal line, where an under pressure Gower could only stab the loose ball wide.

The confidence growing in Southend's play became even more apparent in the 34^th minute when a second goal was registered, after Peter Clarke ventured forward to manfully head in Charlie Mulgrew's free kick from in front of goal.

Southend maintained the same tempo after the interval and with their defence holding firm and plenty of possession coming their way, a third goal always seemed on the cards.

It duly arrived in the 64^th minute, with more notable build-up play coming from the right flank - the source of all the Blues' goals - as Simon Francis delivered an in-swinging cross to allow Gower to plant a header out of goalkeeper Scott Flinders' reach.

Andy Kirk tried to offer Yeovil some respite, but could only hook the ball over from close range in the final stages.

Gower crashed a 20 yard strike on to the crossbar, but nonetheless Southend capped a brilliant display at Huish Park that puts them right into the mix of things at the business end of the season.