HARRY Bunn bagged a brace as Southend United surged to a 3-0 win against Walsall at Roots Hall tonight. 

The on loan Bury winger netted in both halves and was joined on the score-sheet by Timothee Dieng as the Shrimpers bounced bounce from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Coventry City.

Blues’ win was overshadowed by injuries to Harry Lennon and Tom Hopper.

And Chris Powell’s side were also forced to survive an early scare as Walsall wasted a fine chance to score after just three minutes when Josh Ginnelly headed Connor Ronan’s right wing cross wide of the left post from close range.

Moments later, the Saddlers’ Morgan Ferrier saw a close range volley ruled out for a push on Jason Demetriou before Blues were forced into an early change with Lennon suffering what appeared to be a nasty leg injury.

The centre-back – who was making his first start since suffering a fractured toe against Doncaster Rovers on the opening day of the season – was stretchered off after a challenge with Saddlers skipper George Dobson and was replaced at the heart of the back four by Michael Turner.

Shortly after the enforced alteration, Blues began to threaten with Ben Coker having a skimming shot parried to safety by Saddlers goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

But, with 23 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers did make the breakthrough with Bunn bagging his first goal of the club.

The fit-again winger reacted sharply after Taylor Moore had headed Sam Mantom’s right wing corner against the top of the crossbar and netted with a clinical finish from close range.

The goal also ended a run of 10 games without a goal for the Shrimpers at the North Bank end of the pitch.

But, in the 33rd minute, Blues were hit by a second injury blow as top scorer Hopper hobbled off and was replaced in attack by Shawn McCoulsky.

Walsall attempted to make the most of the changes and came close to equalising in first half stoppage time when Ronan’s left wing corner fizzed across the face of goal.

At the start of the second half, Shrimpers skipper Mantom fired just wide of the left post from 20 yards before play switched to the other end of the field with Ginnelly having a header tipped over the crossbar by Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Moments later, Ferrier headed wide of the right post from 12 yards before the Shrimpers doubled their lead in the 76th minute, with Dieng also bagging his first goal from the club.

The French midfielder was picked out by a right wing corner from Mantom and netted with a powerful header which flew into the roof of the net from eight yards.

With Blues looking for a third goal, McCoulsky saw a close range effort tipped wide of the left post by Roberts who then did well to keep out Turner’s header from another Mantom corner.

But the Shrimpers were not to be denied for long and, in the 82nd minute, they sealed their win when Bunn’s low effort was deflected into his own net by Jack Fitzwater.