SOUTHEND United slumped 11 points from safety after suffering a torrid 4-0 defeat against Oxford United at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers went into the clash hoping to build on their 3-1 win against AFC Wimbledon in the Leasing.com Trophy.

But Sol Campbell’s side went behind inside the first minute and never looked liked troubling the in-form visitors.

Oxford opened the scoring after just 52 seconds when Shrimpers defender Richard Taylor looked to play a pass across his penalty area.

But the centre-back, who was making his League debut, could only roll the ball into the path of Matt Taylor who fired home from eight yards out.

Moments later, Tariqe Fosu sent a low 20 yard shot straight at Blues goalkeeper Nathan Bishop who then did well to deny James Henry twice in quick succession.

However, with 33 minutes on the clock, Oxford doubled their lead when a loose play from Timothee Dieng allowed Henry to charge forward and send a low 20 yard shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The visitors soon came close to making it 3-0 with Taylor having a close range effort blocked by Bishop before Anthony Forde saw his low effort comfortably held by the Blues goalkeeper.

After the break, Fosu sent a low 18 yard shot against the foot of the left post before Shrimpers boss Sol Campbell made his first change of the afternoon in the 58th minute with Isaac Hutchinson replacing Taylor.

A second substitution soon followed with Brandon Goodship replacing Ethan Hamilton but the Shrimpers never looked like scoring and Oxford raced further clear late on.

Taylor bagged his second goal of the game in the 84th minute when he sent a low, right footed shot into the left hand side of the net.

And, just moments after entering the action as a substitute, Dan Agyei made it 4-0 two minutes later as he charged down the left hand side and fired a low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Blues rallied late on with U's goalkeeper Simon Eastwood denying both Goodship and Hutchinson at the death but there was to be no denying Oxford their first win at Roots Hall since 2003.