League One bottom club Southampton grabbed three valuable points as a trio of first-half goals helped them to a 3-1 victory over Southend at Roots Hall.

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The Saints took the lead in controversial circumstances after just six minutes through Neal Trotman. The centre-back stabbed the ball home from close range after Southend goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall failed to collect a Rickie Lambert header from Papa Waigo N'Daiye's cross.

Southend's players claimed Mildenhall had both hands on the ball but referee Grant Hegley allowed the goal after consulting his assistant.

The Shrimpers got back on terms after 27 minutes following a foul on Dougie Freedman by Dan Harding. Left-back George Friend curled the resulting direct free-kick into the top-right corner from 25 yards.

But five minutes later Saints restored their lead when Simon Francis's poor clearance fell to Morgan Schneiderlin and his shot defected off Adam Lallana's chest and into the bottom-right corner of the goal.

And on the stroke of half-time Lallana made it 3-1 when he raced onto goalkeeper Kelvin Davis's long goal-kick and fired into the right of the goal from the edge of the box.

Hartlepool and Brentfordcancelled each other out in a drab 0-0 draw at Victoria Park.

The home side had only won once at home this season going into the clash, and the visitors once away, so it was perhaps no surprise to see both teams struggle to create chances throughout.

On a wet and windy night, Hartlepool goalkeeper Scott Flinders made an early firm save at his right-hand post to keep out a free-kick by Sam Saunders.

Flinders's second stop came after 12 minutes when a low shot from Sam Wood skidded off the surface in front of the keeper.

The home side responded, with Antony Sweeney seeing one effort deflected over from seven yards before later hooking over from a similar distance.

Denis Behan then shot low across goal from a tight angle, but the striker should have done more eight minutes into the second half when he shot wastefully wide after being put clear of the visiting defence.

Brentford's best chance came with 12 minutes remaining as Wood headed at goal from a deep cross only to see the ball deflect wide.