High five! Mansfield Town’s winning streak continues at Southend United

Jamie Reid’s fourth goal of the season stretched Mansfield Town’s impressive winning streak to five games.

The 26-year-old’s second goal in as many games secured the Stags’ first win at Roots Hall since 2004.

Reid bagged the only goal of the game as the visitors sunk ten-man Southend United.

Tim Dieng was sent off for the hosts as any glimmer of a late revival evaporated.

And with just one loss in their last 10 games and being unbeaten in seven, Nigel Clough’s side have opened up a healthy 11-point gap over the relegation places.

The revival under experienced Clough has been startling and the Stags now sit just five points off the play-off places after looking like relegation candidates earlier in the season.

Clough named a solitary change from the team which beat Oldham Athletic last time out.

Veteran Stephen Quinn, on-loan from League One Burton Albion, came straight into the starting line-up as Andy Cook dropped to the bench.

And debutant Quinn looked dangerous as he looked to make an immediate impact in a Stags’ shirt.

Both sides had early chances to take the lead.

Harry Charsley saw his effort blocked after Quinn found him inside the box.

Down the other end, Kyle Taylor blasted over the visitor’s bar.

Alan McCormack fired wide as the hosts threatened.

Stags’ stopper Aidan Stone produced a good low save to keep out Simeon Akinola’s deflected effort.

Clough’s charges were denied by some last-ditch defending as Jamie Reid’s effort was cleared off the line after George Lapslie’s knockdown.

The first chance after the break fell to Reid as he fired wide before Dieng headed wide at the other end.

But Reid made no mistake as he put the Stags ahead in the 64th minute.

The Northern Irishman was in the right place at the right time to poke home the equaliser after Jordan Bowery forced Mark Oxley into action.

Mark Moseley’s hosts saw shouts for a penalty waved away after Dieng went down inside the box.

Charsley could have wrapped the game up with eight minutes left but his curling 25-yard effort flew over the bar.

Dieng was sent off late on for a second yellow after an off-the-ball incident.

Southend: Oxley, Bwomono (Clifford, 45), Hobson, Hart, White, McCormack (Nathaniel-George, 59), Dieng, Taylor, Akinola, Hackett-Fairchild, Halford (Acquah, 73). Unused subs: Seaden, Taylor, Howard, Stewart.

Mansfield: Stone, Sweeney, Rawson, Gordon, McLaughlin (Benning, 90+2), Maris, Quinn (Cook, 77), Lapslie, Charsley, Bowery, Reid. Unused subs: Stech, O'Keeffe, Perch, Law.

Referee: Ben Speedie (Merseyside).