Oxford United 0 Southend United 2

Two goals in the first half from Blair Sturrock and Sean Clohessy were enough to prevent Oxford from starting 2011 with a win. In truth, United were never at the races and Southend deserved the three points.

Chris Wilder made one change from the side that started against Macclesfield on Tuesday, with Ben Purkiss coming in for Damian Batt. The first change was made just a couple of minutes before half-time when Josh Payne, who had just been booked, was taken off and Asa Hall took his place. At half-time Jake Wright came on for Ben Futcher, and with about half an hour to go Steve Kinniburgh was replaced by Tom Craddock.

I won't go into any match detail – the report on the official site surprisingly says everything I would have wanted to say. Go there and read that for a blow-by-blow and probably inaccurate account.

Today's referee was Chris Sarginson, whose last Oxford game was a goalless draw at Forest Green Rovers in March 2008. He brandished yellow cards in the direction of Payne, Futcher, Simon Heslop, and MacLean. The attendance was 7,362 including 468 happy clappy Essex laddies.

The defeat sees United drop to 13th place, with Southend leapfrogging them into 12th position. On Monday the Us travel to tenth-placed Torquay United, who were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom side Hereford United. Second-bottom Barnet lost 2-1 at home to Oxford's next opponents, Aldershot Town, who climbed to 16th place. Third-bottom Lincoln City are level on points with Barnet after losing 2-1 at home to 11th-placed Bradford City.

Chesterfield remain top of the table after thrashing fifth-bottom Stockport County 4-1, with Craig Davies completing the scoring in the final minute. Rotherham United are up to second after a fine 5-0 win over Port Vale, who are now fourth. Wycombe Wanderers are third thanks to a 2-1 win at eighth-placed Cheltenham Town, with former United triallist Stuart Beavon opening the scoring for the Chairboys.

In other games, Gillingham beat Stevenage 1-0 while Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town drew 0-0. Bury and Macclesfield Town shared the spoils after a 2-2 draw, Crewe Alexandra beat Northampton Town 2-0, and Accrington Stanley won 2-0 at Morecambe. [@opponent]southend united[/@opponent]