[goldenHuddlestone]

Southend manager Steve Tilson is to appeal against captain Kevin Mahers red card during Saturdays bitter Championship battle at Colchester.

Maher was one of three players dismissed in bottom-of-the-table Southends 3-0 defeat at Layer Road, followed by team-mate Mark Gower and Colchesters Chris Barker for two bookable offences.

Mahers clash with Colchester skipper Karl Duguid sparked the furore, with the latter claiming he was headbutted and slamming the midfielder as "unprofessional".

Maher retorted: "Its just embarrassing. He was holding his face and I had not even touched him."

Colchester boss Geraint Williams, whose side made it seven straight home wins with goals from Greg Halford, Pat Baldwin and Jamie Cureton, will take "internal action" against Duguid if video evidence finds against his skipper.