Southend ended their run of games for 2007 nursing an almighty hangover after losing 3-1 on the road at Doncaster Rovers.
It means that the Blues have now gone four games without a win in League One, but just as pressing a concern will have been noted from the fact that the defeat stemmed by conceding all three goals from set pieces.
Little more than eight minutes were on the clock when Adam Lockwood put Doncaster ahead.
The defender rose to meet Brian Stock's in-swinging with a header that bounced off the underside of the bar before being adjudged to have crossed the line on its way down.
Yet while there appeared little flow to the opening exchanges with too many passes going astray, Southend found the cohesion they needed to draw level in the 18th minute.
Kevin Maher guided the ball to Nicky Bailey down the left flank and having brilliantly cut inside, he lined up a teasing cross that saw Charlie MacDonald nip in front of Steve Roberts to glance the ball into the net via the post.
While the heavens began to open at the Keepmoat Stadium, it was through another corner that saw Southend punished in the 30th minute, as Paul Green regained the hosts' lead.
Stock's delivery from the right was not dealt with and Doncaster seized on such hesitancy at the back, as Jason Price's initial shot was only charged down to the feet of Green who, afforded too much space inside the box, did the rest in lashing the ball down the middle of the goal.
Price came close to adding a third goal when he met James Coppinger's right-wing cross and arrowed a shot that Steve Collis parried around the post.
Sadly, the warning sign wasn't heeded and from the resultant corner, Doncaster increased their advantage after Collis could only punch the ball clear to Gareth Roberts, who hit a thumping shot into the far corner of the net from 20 yards out.
Doncaster continued in the same momentum after the interval by applying firm pressure, yet this time without any end product; a Price strike sailing over from 15 yards was a rare moment of purpose.
Southend brought on the fresh legs of Gary Hooper and Dean Morgan late-on and the former had a great chance to reduce the arrears, but racing through, he instead dragged his shot wide, when goalkeeper Neil Sullivan should have at least been tested.
In terms of making a further impact up field, Southend were sadly left in vain, as the game panned out in equal measures of frustration and disappointment.
Southend: Collis, Francis, P Clarke, Barrett, Hunt, Black, Maher, Bailey, Gower (Morgan 73), MacDonald, L Clarke (Hooper 73)
Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Roberts, Lockwood, Roberts, Coppinger (Hayter 81), Green, Wellens (Woods 78), Stock, McCammon, Price (Guy 74).
