On-loan Reading forward Karl Sheppard headed home the only goal of the game for Accrington, who grabbed their first away win since January at Southend.

Stanley were grateful for the fine form of keeper Ian Dunbavin, who pulled of a number of excellent saves, most notably from Ryan Hall and Michael Timlin.

Southend's Gavin Tomlin also had an effort scrambled off the line by full-back Craig Lindfield.

Sheppard's looping header on the hour proved enough to seal victory.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"It's a cruel game, football. When you look at the stats, the chances created, the amount of crosses we put in the box, to come out without a couple of goals is disappointing.

"All credit to Accrington, they had a game plan, they worked very hard and a stupid set-piece caught us out.

"My goalie hasn't had a save to make but we finished up having to chase the game.

"I'm gutted for everybody but there are positives to take out of the game."

Catch up with all the latest highlights from League Two on the Football League Show

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Southend United

  • 34 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 15 Phillips
  • 16 Prosser Booked
  • 18 Leonard (Harris - 77' )
  • 23 Barker
  • 04 Hall
  • 08 Timlin
  • 12 Ferdinand (Spicer - 73' )
  • 20 Assombalonga (Cresswell - 72' )
  • 21 Tomlin

Substitutes

  • 17 Bentley
  • 03 Straker
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 14 Hurst
  • 19 Spicer
  • 09 Harris
  • 24 Benyon

Accrington Stanley

  • 25 Dunbavin
  • 02 Murphy
  • 03 Liddle
  • 05 Nsiala
  • 04 Joyce
  • 10 Hatfield
  • 12 Miller Booked
  • 14 Clark (Barnett - 53' )
  • 07 Lindfield
  • 09 Sheppard (Amond - 77' )
  • 11 Chippendale (Winnard - 50' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 22 Dawber
  • 06 Winnard
  • 13 Richardson
  • 08 Barnett
  • 30 Dawson
  • 17 Gray
  • 23 Amond
Ref: Robinson
Att: 4,673

Match Stats

Shots

20 5

On target

6 3

Corners

14 8

Fouls

11 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:28 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +6:00

Corner taken by Ryan Hall from the right by-line.

90:00 +4:45

Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Gavin Tomlin goes wide of the left-hand post.

90:00 +3:04

Effort from the edge of the box by Ryan Hall goes wide of the right-hand upright.

90:00 +2:53

Sean Clohessy crosses the ball.

90:00 +1:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Barker by Padraig Amond. Cameron Belford restarts play with the free kick.

89:03

Corner taken short by Charlie Barnett.

87:21

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Hall, Ryan Cresswell produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

85:49

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, Dean Winnard manages to make a clearance.

84:20

Luke Joyce crosses the ball, Effort from deep inside the area by Will Hatfield misses to the left of the target.

82:55

The ball is crossed by Gavin Tomlin, clearance by Craig Lindfield.

82:08

Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

82:08 Booking

Booking George Miller goes into the referee's book for time wasting.

81:24

Outswinging corner taken by Will Hatfield from the right by-line played to the near post, Unfair challenge on Luke Prosser by Will Hatfield results in a free kick.

78:58

Centre by Michael Timlin, Ryan Cresswell takes a shot. Ian Dunbavin makes a save. Corner taken by Ryan Hall from the left by-line, Mark Phillips takes a shot. Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall, Aristote Nsiala manages to make a clearance. Ryan Hall decides to take the corner short. Save by Ian Dunbavin.

78:32

Dean Winnard challenges Gavin Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Hall.

77:00 Substitution

Substitution Karl Sheppard leaves the field to be replaced by Padraig Amond.

76:05

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ryan Hall, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Luke Prosser misses to the left of the goal.

76:05 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Leonard leaves the field to be replaced by Neil Harris.

75:41

Gavin Tomlin delivers the ball.

74:14

John Spicer challenges Charlie Barnett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Joyce takes the direct free kick.

72:19 Substitution

Substitution John Spicer comes on in place of Kane Ferdinand.

71:49 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Cresswell comes on in place of Britt Assombalonga.

69:51

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall from the left by-line, clearance made by Aristote Nsiala.

64:32

Ryan Hall produces a left-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

61:48

Unfair challenge on Craig Lindfield by Luke Prosser results in a free kick. Dean Winnard takes the direct free kick.

60:34

Assist on the goal came from Charlie Barnett.

60:34 Goal scored

Goal - Karl Sheppard - Southend 0 - 1 Accrington Karl Sheppard finds the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Southend 0-1 Accrington Stanley.

60:16

Corner taken by Charlie Barnett played to the near post, Ryan Leonard makes a clearance.

59:54

A cross is delivered by Michael Liddle, clearance by Chris Barker.

58:14

Shot by Michael Timlin from just outside the area goes over the net.

55:05

Ryan Hall fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

55:05 Booking

Booking Dean Winnard shown a yellow card.

54:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Leonard by Dean Winnard.

52:55 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Barnett is brought on as a substitute for Luke Clark.

52:33

Luke Prosser takes a shot.

49:51 Substitution

Substitution Aidan Chippendale leaves the field to be replaced by Dean Winnard.

49:15

Ryan Leonard has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

48:39

Sean Clohessy produces a cross, Craig Lindfield makes a clearance.

47:37

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ryan Hall, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Kane Ferdinand misses to the right of the target.

47:17

Michael Timlin takes a shot. Save made by Ian Dunbavin.

47:01

Ryan Hall takes the inswinging corner, Luke Clark manages to make a clearance.

46:44

The ball is crossed by Sean Clohessy, save by Ian Dunbavin.

46:29

George Miller concedes a free kick for a foul on Britt Assombalonga. Michael Timlin restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +3:14 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +2:45

Aidan Chippendale takes the inswinging corner, save by Cameron Belford.

45:00 +1:12

Luke Prosser gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Karl Sheppard. Strike on goal comes in from Aidan Chippendale from the free kick, Ryan Leonard gets a block in.

45:00 +0:53

The ball is crossed by Karl Sheppard, clearance by Mark Phillips.

45:00 +0:11

Handball decision goes against Gavin Tomlin. Ian Dunbavin restarts play with the free kick.

41:23

Ian Dunbavin takes the direct free kick.

41:23 Booking

Booking Luke Prosser is shown a yellow card.

40:51

Unfair challenge on Ian Dunbavin by Gavin Tomlin results in a free kick.

42:30

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot.

41:23

Direct free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

41:23 Booking

Booking Mark Phillips booked for persistent infringement.

40:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Dunbavin by Gavin Tomlin.

40:21

Ryan Hall decides to take the corner short.

40:10

The ball is sent over by Gavin Tomlin, Michael Liddle manages to make a clearance.

38:15

The ball is delivered by Craig Lindfield.

37:40

Short corner taken by Aidan Chippendale from the right by-line.

37:27

Centre by Craig Lindfield, Mark Phillips manages to make a clearance.

35:16

Michael Liddle fouled by Ryan Hall, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Liddle restarts play with the free kick.

34:51

Ryan Leonard takes a shot.

34:42

The ball is sent over by Ryan Hall.

34:23

Corner taken by Ryan Hall from the left by-line, clearance made by Peter Murphy.

32:57

George Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Hall. Ryan Hall has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save made by Ian Dunbavin.

31:08

Centre by Michael Timlin, Headed effort from inside the area by Kane Ferdinand misses to the right of the goal.

28:15

Gavin Tomlin produces a cross, Britt Assombalonga challenges Craig Lindfield unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Dunbavin takes the direct free kick.

26:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Michael Liddle. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ryan Hall from right wing, Ian Dunbavin makes a save.

24:51

Mark Phillips challenges Michael Liddle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

23:49

Unfair challenge on Mark Phillips by Karl Sheppard results in a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

23:16

Foul by Mark Phillips on Luke Clark, free kick awarded. Michael Liddle takes the direct free kick.

22:19

Aidan Chippendale takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, save by Cameron Belford.

21:49

Corner taken right-footed by Luke Clark, Luke Prosser manages to make a clearance.

21:36

The ball is delivered by Aidan Chippendale.

20:33

Kane Ferdinand challenges Will Hatfield unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Joyce takes the direct free kick.

20:05

Gavin Tomlin takes a shot. Save by Ian Dunbavin.

18:38

Shot from just outside the box by Ryan Leonard goes over the target.

17:53

Luke Clark concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Phillips. Direct free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

17:53

Foul by Luke Clark on Mark Phillips, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Sean Clohessy.

17:27

Aristote Nsiala challenges Gavin Tomlin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

13:41

Foul by Aidan Chippendale on Mark Phillips, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

11:18

Ryan Hall takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Craig Lindfield.

11:00

Unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Aristote Nsiala results in a free kick. Ryan Leonard restarts play with the free kick.

10:33

The ball is sent over by Ryan Leonard.

8:33

Ryan Hall takes a shot. Ian Dunbavin makes a save.

8:23

The ball is swung over by Sean Clohessy.

7:33

Sean Clohessy sends in a cross.

5:05

Foul by Ryan Leonard on Will Hatfield, free kick awarded. Ian Dunbavin restarts play with the free kick.

3:27

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Aidan Chippendale from the right by-line to the near post, Cameron Belford makes a save.

2:53

Luke Clark takes a shot. Michael Timlin gets a block in.

1:54

Corner taken by Ryan Hall from the right by-line played to the near post, Gavin Tomlin concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Dunbavin. Direct free kick taken by Ian Dunbavin.

1:30

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Hall from the left by-line to the near post, Aidan Chippendale makes a clearance.

0:56

Luke Clark takes a shot.

0:34

Peter Murphy produces a cross.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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