Shaun Goater was missing through illness as Southend crashed to a rare home defeat yesterday on a Bad Friday for the Shrimpers.

In the only League One game of the day, the league leaders by eight points were beaten by a second half strike from Tommy Black.

Goater, who will retire at the end of the season, had been struggling all week with an illness and was replaced in the starting line up by Wayne Gray as Steve Tilson?s men had their unbeaten run of 12 abruptly halted.

Southend, who are all but guaranteed a minimum of a play-off spot in their quest for a second successive promotion, have just four matches left this term and travel to Barnsley on Monday.