After impressive away wins at venues including Hartlepool and Southampton, Bristol Rovers have generally enjoyed their trips to the seaside this term.

But the fact they appeared to be in holiday mode for much of the opening period at Southend was to cost them dear.

They had sand kicked in their faces by League One's leading scorer Lee Barnard, who netted early in each half to take his tally for the campaign into double figures and leave Bristol Rovers in deep trouble.

Only when they were a couple of goals adrift did the visitors seem to come alive to the fact that this was still an encounter they were capable of winning, especially after a spell of pressure which saw makeshift defender Anthony Grant poke the ball into his own net.

But the clutch of chances Rovers created were not taken, with loan striker Chris Dickson squandering a string of good opportunities and Shrimpers' keeper Steve Mildenhall coming to his side's rescue on a number of occasions.

"My biggest concern was that we lacked the urgency which we have normally shown in most of the away games this season," acknowledged Rovers boss Paul Trollope.

"It seemed as though a switch was flicked when we went 2-0 down. The urgency and intensity came into our game and we started to pass the ball with a tempo.

"When we did that in the second half, we bossed the game and got on top. We were terrific in that spell – but by then we were chasing the game. When we have shown that urgency early on, we have been able to take quick leads – like we did at Stockport and Brentford. That was the aim again here, but unfortunately we didn't produce it."

Rovers had a scare as early as the second minute when a Southend free-kick cannoned off Aaron Lescott and fell to Franck Moussa, whose 20-yarder flew just wide of Mikkel Anderson's right-hand post.

And the visitors were in arrears in the 13th minute after Mark Wright gave away possession cheaply in midfield, allowing the home side to break. Dougie Freedman supplied a neat back-heel and Barnard showed the ability and confidence that comes from regularly finding the net by doing just that.

He unleashed a beauty from 20 yards which curled around Andersen's despairing dive to give the Shrimpers the lead.

Though Wright almost made amends five minutes later when he unleashed a rising shot which flew over the top after clipping the head of former Rovers skipper Adam Barrett, the Pirates were still some way short of their best.

They looked fortunate not to concede a penalty when Carl Regan appeared to shove Freedman in the back just after the half-hour, and the experienced Southend striker then went close to adding a second with a drive that went inches wide of Andersen's right-hand post.

Rovers' best chance of the opening period came just before the break when good work by Jo Kuffour presented Dickson with his first scoring opportunity of the afternoon, but Mildenhall went to his right to make an important save.

And poor defending shortly after the interval left Bristol Rovers with an even bigger hill to climb after again giving the ball away.

Alan McCormack made progress down Southend's right flank and delivered a cross which presented the unmarked Barnard with a tap-in from six yards.

It was a poor goal to concede – but at least it appeared to act as a kick up the backside.

For Dickson promptly found himself with a couple more good opportunities, but chipped one over the top, and blasted the next over the bar as well after Kuffour had provided a nod-down.

Pressure did pay, though, when a positive run from Chris Lines led to Wright providing a cross and Grant, who was being hassled by Kuffour, could only steer the ball into his own net.

Dickson then had a chance to grab the leveller after latching on to a through-ball from Kuffour, but Mildenhall advanced quickly to smother the on-loan striker's shot.

And the Shrimpers survived a scare in stoppage-time when substitutes Darryl Duffy and Andy Williams were both denied as the home side continued to get bodies in the way.

Southend boss Steve Tilson admitted his side had ridden their luck in the second half, but was understandably delighted with what was only their second home win in seven attempts.

"There were a few scary moments at the death and maybe they could have got an equaliser with some better finishing, but our keeper made some good saves," he said.

"We still created our own chances and could have won by a bigger margin.

"We don't have the biggest squad in the world – and neither do Bristol Rovers – but we are down to bare bones with injuries so this was a great effort from the lads against a good team.

"Every point we get is vital and it was a fantastic result for us."