Saints striker Sam McQueen netted his second goal for Southend United, but it was only a consolation, as the Shrimpers lost 3-1 away to Port Vale in League 1.
McQueen, who came on at half time, produced a smart finish with his left foot, stroking the ball just inside the post from six yards, after Cian Bolger had nodded down a Ben Coker free-kick in the 90th minute.
By then, however, Southend were already 3-0 down, with Carl Dickinson, Michael O’Connor and a Coker own goal doing the damage within the opening 40 minutes.
After McQueen’s effort, which followed from his first Southend goal in a 3-0 win over Colchester earlier this month, the visitors did have a chance to pull another goal back, but David Mooney hit the bar from the penalty spot after being tripped in the area.
Southend are now eighth in League 1, two points outside the play-off spots.
Centre half Jordan Turnbull helped Swindon Town extend their unbeaten run to four matches, as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Peterborough.
The hosts took a first half lead when Marcus Maddison converted from the penalty spot, but Nicky Ajose’s sensational free-kick and Michael Doughty’s late, angled strike gave the visitors the points.
The result sees the Robins go 12th in League 1, seven points off the play-offs.
There was another good day for Lloyd Isgrove and Barnsley, as they extend their latest unbeaten stretch to three matches with a 2-1 win away to Crewe.
They fell behind after 32 minutes to John Guthrie, but they roared back in the second half, as Sam Winnall scrambled in from a corner, before Alfie Mawson fired home a long-range free-kick, before Isgrove was substituted in the 73rd minute.
The Tykes are now on a run that has seen them lose just once in their last 11 League 1 games, taking them up to ninth and just three points off the play-offs.
There was disappointment for centre-back Jack Stephens, as he played the full game in Coventry’s 2-1 defeat at home to Fleetwood Town, continuing his partnership with Baily Cargill at the heard of defence.
Wes Burns headed in a 56th minute opener for the visitors and, although Marcus Tudgay struck home an equaliser with 15 minutes left, David Ball lashed in an unstoppable drive from 25 yards shortly afterwards to give Fleetwood the win.
Coventry, who have now won just one of their last seven, have slipped down to seventh place in League 1.
Gastón Ramírez’s positive start to his time at Middlesbrough continued, as he helped the Championship side boost their automatic promotion hopes with a 2-0 win away to Fulham.
Boro led in the third minute, when Albert Adomah headed in Stewart Downing’s cross, and they doubled the lead from the spot in the 20th minute, when Grant Leadbitter converted after David Nugent had been tripped.
Ramírez stayed on until the 87th minute, when he was substituted, as he made his fourth appearance for the club.
Middlesbrough remain third in the Championship, level on points with Hull and one behind leaders Burnley, but with games in hand on both.
In League 2, defender Jason McCarthy helped Wycombe Wanderers climb back into the play-off positions, with a 1-0 home win over Bristol Rovers.
McCarthy helped the Chairboys keep a clean sheet, while he nearly gave them a second-half lead with a thumping back post header that forced a stunning save from Rovers keeper Ryan Allsop.
Wycombe did get the decisive breakthrough five minutes from time, though, as Luke O’Nien headed home from Joe Jacobson’s deep free-kick to move the side up to sixth in the table.
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