Southend 2 Swindon Town 1 

Town endure last-minute torture at Roots Hall

Southend scorers: Barratt 31, Gower 90+2

Town scorer: Cox 2

Swindon Town fans must be punch drunk with disappointing blows after this result.

 

Southend dramatically grabbing all three points with a winner in the last seconds of injury time to deny the Robins what would have been a massive morale boosting point.

 

That after a week to forget off the field, with the club teetering on the brink of receivership following news that the proposed takeover by Andrew Fitton is far from secured.

 

"We're devastated, absolutely devastated," said joint-caretaker manager Ady Willliams after the game.

 

"We richly deserved something from that performance and I just can't believe how we've come away without even a point."

 

"The players were outstanding. I can't fault them. And if we show that attitude we will get results."

 

Perfect start

 

One-up after only ninety seconds, when Simon Cox pounced to convert a spilled shot from Andy Nicholas, Town built on their perfect start with a highly disciplined first-half display.

 

The unlikely midfield partnership of debutant Chris Allen and Michael Pook proving inspirational as Southend found it difficult to find space in key areas, much to their frustration.

 

The seasider's highly-rated striker Leon Clarke reduced to just the one chance early on as a result - a stinging shot that crashed against the crossbar with Brezovan beaten.

 

It was the first sign that Southend were dangerous when in good positions, so when Town captain Hasnee Aljofree gave away a free-kick just outside the box on 31 minutes the almost inevitable happened.

 

The ball expertly floated into the six yard area for Adam Barrett to head home.

 

A goal that could have seen Swindon's makeshift side lose heart in what has been the week from hell, but no.

 

Totally to the contrary, teenager Allen summed up the desire he and his teammates showed after conceding the goal by renewing the fight in midfield and genuinely competing in what were atrocious conditions.

 

A good long range effort from Pook and some tireless running from substitute Billy Paynter in the second-half reminding the home side that Swindon weren't just happy to hang on for a point.

 

But with literally seconds remaining on the clock, a lack of concentration at the back let in Mark Gower to fire home an unstoppable shot that left them leaving the pitch without even that.

 

Swindon fall to 14th.

 

The League One table.

 

1 Swansea 18 14 34
2 Leyton Orient 19 1 34

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3 Nottm Forest 18 19 33
4 Carlisle 18 15 33
5 Leeds 19 25 32
6 Southend 19 6 32

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7 Doncaster 19 6 28
8 Walsall 19 3 28
9 Yeovil 19 -1 28
10 Tranmere 19 4 27
11 Brighton 19 3 27
12 Hartlepool 19 0 24
13 Crewe 19 -5 24
14 Swindon 18 3 23
15 Huddersfield 19 -15 23
16 Gillingham 19 -14 22
17 Oldham 18 0 21
18 Northampton 19 -7 20
19 Bristol Rovers 17 -5 19
20 Millwall 18 -9 19

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21 Port Vale 19 -13 15
22 Cheltenham 18 -13 15
23 Luton18 -1 13
24 Bournemouth 19 -16 13

 

NEXT GAME:

 

Brighton (H)

Saturday 15 December 2007, 3:00pm
Coco-Cola League One