Burton Albion remain four points clear at the top of League One following their 2-1 defeat away at Southend United this evening.
Nigel Clough's men made the trip to Essex on the back of two straight home victories over Bradford City and Chesterfield, but goals from Southend trio Anthony Wordsworth, Tyrone Barnett and David Mooney condemned the visitors to an eighth defeat of the campaign.
There were seven minutes on the clock at Roots Hall when the home team broke the deadlock through Wordsworth. Jack Payne's initial shot was blocked, but the ball ricocheted into the path of the midfielder and he buried it in the bottom corner.
However, Burton were level just 60 seconds before the break courtesy of Stuart Beavon. The striker's shot from the edge of the area took a deflection that left Daniel Bentley in the Southend goal no chance.
Both sides had chances in the early exchanges of the second half, but it was not until the 63rd minute that net was bulged for a third time.
Payne picked out Barnett with a cross and from 18 yards out, the 30-year-old fired in his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
The encounter was then put out of Burton's reach in stoppage time when Mooney broke clear following a defensive error and then kept his cool to find the bottom corner.
The victory has moved Phil Brown's hosts up to seventh position, just two points adrift of Coventry City in the final playoff berth.
Liam Apicella
