Match ends, Southend United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1.
SouthendSouthend United1CreweCrewe Alexandra1
Jack Payne's injury-time penalty helped Southend secure a vital point against second-bottom Crewe at Roots Hall.
Following a number of misses by both sides, the game sprung into life in the 86th minute when George Cooper fired home a 25-yard free-kick to give the visitors a shock lead.
However, the hosts were awarded their second spot-kick of the match after Ben Nugent fouled Jamar Loza in the box.
Tyrone Barnett had seen his first-half penalty saved by keeper Ben Garratt.
The draw leaves Southend a point off the play-off places, while Crewe have slipped eight points adrift of safety.
Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We were terrific. We deserved to win. That is all you can ask from them, the penalty incident aside at the end. We have gone to a tough place, battled away and shown the ability we have.
"The players can be proud of their performance. We have gone head to head with a team who are looking to get into the top six and were the better team.
"We know George Cooper is capable of scoring free-kicks like that. He did that against Coventry in his early days in the team and slowly he is getting that confidence back."
Line-ups
Southend
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bentley
- 5Thompson
- 15BolgerBooked at 78mins
- 26Barrett
- 3CokerBooked at 87mins
- 12AtkinsonSubstituted forPayneat 79'minutes
- 22Deegan
- 4WordsworthBooked at 58mins
- 20McQueenSubstituted forWorrallat 58'minutesBooked at 86mins
- 9MooneySubstituted forLozaat 58'minutes
- 19BarnettBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
- 7Worrall
- 8Timlin
- 10Payne
- 13Smith
- 16Hunt
- 23Loza
- 25Kamara
Crewe
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Garratt
- 2Turton
- 3Guthrie
- 6Nugent
- 41Bakayogo
- 11CooperSubstituted forNgat 88'minutes
- 15FoxSubstituted forAinleyat 81'minutes
- 20Jones
- 10Inman
- 9Haber
- 36HitchcockBooked at 54minsSubstituted forSaundersat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Ray
- 13Richards
- 14Saunders
- 23Ng
- 25Ainley
- 31Kirk
- 32Howell
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 5,444
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthendAway TeamCrewe
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southend United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1.
Goal!
Goal! Southend United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1. Jack Payne (Southend United) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Ben Nugent (Crewe Alexandra) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty Southend United. Jamar Loza draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Ben Nugent (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by David Worrall (Southend United).
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Perry Ng replaces George Cooper.
Booking
Ben Coker (Southend United) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Tyrone Barnett (Southend United) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Southend United 0, Crewe Alexandra 1. George Cooper (Crewe Alexandra) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
Booking
David Worrall (Southend United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Ben Coker (Southend United).
Post update
George Cooper (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Callum Ainley replaces David Fox.
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Adam Barrett.
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Cooper (Crewe Alexandra) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Jack Payne replaces Will Atkinson.
Post update
Marcus Haber (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Adam Barrett (Southend United).
