OFF-COLOUR Athletic fired a third blank on the spin with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Roots Hall.

The goals have certainly dried up for Latics, who have at least been making chances. They simply couldn’t get into their usual fluid rhythm for long periods of the match down here in deepest Essex.

Richie Wellens made two changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Gillingham last week. Peter Clarke returned as skipper in place of the suspended Anthony Gerrard and Queensy Menig won a recall at the expense of Gevaro Nepomuceno.

Latics fell behind when Jason Demetriou gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot on 17 minutes.

Cameron Dummigan was adjudged to have brought down Josh Wright in the area with Southend looking dangerous on the attack. Johny Placide had no chance as he was sent the wrong way from 12 yards.

Shrimpers boss Phil Brown chose not to watch the penalty. No wonder – astonishingly, Southend had missed four out of their previous five this season.

Ryan Leonard should have doubled the hosts’ lead on the half-hour mark when he could only plant a free header wide after Stephen Hendrie got some chalk on his boots to screw in a lovely cross from the left.

Before that, the signs had looked encouraging for Athletic but Eoin Doyle wasted a golden chance to put Latics ahead in the opening minute.

The Irishman found himself in acres of space inside the box but could only blaze his shot over the bar.

Southend’s penalty hero Demetriou turned villain five minutes before the break when he clattered into Rob Hunt inside the left corner of the United area. It was a clumsy challenge but the right-back was booked for his protest rather than the foul.

Up stepped Craig Davies only to be thwarted by a tremendous save from ex-Latics stopper Mark Oxley in the Southend goal.

There was nothing wrong with the frontman’s penalty – hit with plenty of venom straight down the middle – but Oxley somehow managed to get a hand on it while in the process of diving to his right.

It was thumped with so much power, the goalkeeper’s touch saw the ball not only ricochet over the crossbar but over the stand behind the goal.

Wellens’ side needed to up the tempo if they were ever going to get anything out of the game. Briefly, at the start of the second half, they did.

A lovely crossfield ball from Jack Byrne – who was slowly beginning to get into the groove – found Davies but the frontman failed to get an effort away as the ’keeper smothered.

It would prove costly. Phil Brown’s men made it 2-0 on 54 minutes when Wright tapped home from close range following a lovely flowing move down the left which left the Latics’ defence at sixes and sevens.

That was the cue for Wellens – now with Paul Jewell alongside him on the bench – to ring the changes. Clarke looked less than happy when he was hauled off on the hour. Menig had already made way. Byrne would do likewise soon after.

By then though, any lingering hopes of a Latics comeback were summed up when Doyle’s header with five minutes remaining hit the outside of the post and trickled wide – when it could have quite easily hit the inside of the goalframe and sneaked in.

LATICS: Placide, Dummigan, Clarke (Brian Wilson 59), Bryan, Hunt; Fane, Gardner, Byrne (Obadeyi 72), Menig (Nepomuceno 56); Davies, Doyle. Subs (not used): Ben Wilson, Flynn, Omrani, Green.

SOUTHEND: Oxley, Demetriou, Hendrie, Ferdinand, Turner; Kightly (Wordsworth 43), Wright, McLaughlin, Leonard; Cox (Ba 83), Fortune. Subs (not used): Bishop, Yearwood, McGlashan, White, Ranger.

Booked: Doyle (Latics). Demetriou, McLaughlin (Southend).

Attendance: 5,841 (233 away).