Macclesfield Town earned a League lifeline with their first home win since October 29.
The vital victory came courtesy of two second-half goals from master and apprentice partnership Kyle Lightbourne and David Eaton.
And left under pressure manager David Moss promising better things in the vital month of March.
He said: "I told the players at 1.30 that we have eight games in March and that if we are professional and go about our business properly then we could be safe by the end of the month.
"This was a good start but we must build on that performance." Southend nearly got off to a flying start in the tenth minute when a Dominic Foley free-kick was acrobatically palmed wide by the flying Steve Wilson.
Macclesfield's best first-half chance came four minutes before the break, midfield man Danny Whitaker scooping horribly over the bar from three yards.
The all-important opener arrived in the 68th minute, Whitaker picking out Eaton who raced past the cover to lift the ball over the despairing Darryl Flahavan.
Joy turned to delirium for the Moss Rose supporters when veteran Lightbourne added the second ten minutes later, he was first to get on the end of a clearing header from Steve Macauley before thundering home his 11th of the season from the edge of the box.
Southend gave Macclesfield a late scare with Neil Jenkins 87th minute volley but it was too little too late for the Shrimpers.
Manager Rob Newman, who is out of contract at the end of the season, said: "This game is all about character, especially at this level. You can have all the ability in the world, but if you haven't got any character in your body you're never going to win a thing.
"This is not the final nail in the coffin of our play-off hopes, but it is certainly another nail."