Three days after an FA Cup fourth round exit at Leicester, Town faced another tough assignment at League leaders Southend - three years ago today.

But Matt Ritchie, who scored the goals that had brought victory against Rotherham at the Don Valley Stadium in their last away League game, eased his side ahead inside ten minutes.

The chance had been created by Ipswich loanee Ronan Murray, whose shot from the edge of the area beat keeper Glenn Morris but struck the far post.

Ritchie was on hand to side-step his marker Peter Gilbert and rifle a low drive just inside the same post.

Ritchie was again involved at the same stage in the second period, effectively sealing the three points.

The wide man accepted a deep cross from Callum Kennedy and fired towards goal. Morris was unable to gather cleanly and Billy Bodin was on hand to clip the ball over him.

The youngster had only been on for five minutes, having replaced the impressive Murray, and he celebrated his first senior goal in front of the 500 visiting fans.

It was the perfect retort to Southend’s improved showing immediately after the break, when they had introduced Bilel Mohsni.

The tall Frenchman quickly made his presence felt with an effort that was cleared off the line and a shot from distance that was well-saved by Wes Foderingham.

But the hosts were unable to repair the damage that Town had inflicted in the opening 37 minutes.

Following Ritchie’s early strike, Jonathan Smith had doubled their lead before they were pegged back when Jean-Paul Kalala hit a first-time volley from 30 yards that went in via a post.

However, Paolo Di Canio’s men wasted little time in restoring their two-goal advantage, netting a third within just three minutes.

After an acrobatic effort from Paul Benson had been pushed over the bar, Ritchie’s deep corner was met by a thumping header from Joe Devera - also his first for the club.

And so Town left Essex having recorded their fifth successive League victory, a sequence that they were to extend to ten by the end of February.