So it was against the run of play when Southend took a shock lead - with Scolari's new zonal marking system exposed at the first opporunity - as Barrett headed in Stanislas's corner unmarked from eight yards.
At the other end, moments after having a shot saved by Langfield, Hutchinson side-footed Hateley's 88th-minute corner beyond the Dons goalie to give Motherwell a two-goal lead, though Dons boss Brown will be unhappy at the poor marking.
They took the lead when Blake Green's delayed pass put Webster over, with Sheriff marking his debut with a try after Galea and Ben Cockayne combined well on the left.