An injury-time own goal from Southend's Anthony Grant gifted Bristol Rovers victory after a topsy-turvy clash.
Scott Vernon's spot-kick and Scott Spencer's volley put Southend 2-0 up but Jo Kuffour's lob and Jeff Hughes' penalty levelled before half-time.
Hughes put Rovers 3-2 up after the break before Vernon headed in from a corner to restore parity again.
But Southend's Frank Moussa was sent off and Grant headed into his own net to compound the visitor's misery.
Southend United manager Steve Tilson told BBC Essex:
"We deserved a lot more than what we got.
"We created more chances than they did and for me were the better side.
"To lose right in the last minute of injury time was a matter blow for myself and especially the players because they've given everything again today."
Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope told BBC Radio Bristol:
"We know we have to be better than that, especially defensively. The solidity we'd shown recently obviously wasn't there.
"We're close to it (the play-offs), but we're not shouting from the rooftops about it because it's still a lot of points to catch up.
"But if we can win matches when we're playing at that level, it may be a good sign."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 27 March 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Bristol Rovers
4-3
Southend
FT
(HT 2-2)
Kuffour 34
Hughes (pen) 38
Hughes 52
Grant (og) 90+4
Vernon (pen) 5
Spencer 12
Vernon 57
Bristol Rovers
27 Andersen
05 Coles
06 Elliott
15 Anthony yellow card (Regan 82)
48 Jones
04 Lines yellow card
07 Campbell
11 Hughes
16 Blizzard (Williams 67)
09 Heffernan
17 Kuffour
Substitutes
51 Evans,
02 Regan,
03 Wright,
20 Reece,
23 Swallow,
08 Williams,
28 Richard
Southend
01 Mildenhall
02 Francis
05 Baldwin
06 Barrett
18 Herd
04 Christophe
07 Grant yellow card
08 McCormack yellow card
14 Moussa red card
17 Vernon
28 Spencer
Substitutes
36 Bentley,
03 Malone,
15 Sankofa,
20 Mvoto Owono,
22 O'Keefe,
09 Paterson,
26 Laurent
Ref: RushtonAtt: 6,476
BRISTOL ROVERS
SOUTHEND
Possession
Bristol Rovers50%
Southend50%
Attempts on target
Bristol Rovers3
Southend4
Attempts off target
Bristol Rovers6
Southend8
Corners
Bristol Rovers6
Southend6
Fouls
Bristol Rovers9
Southend11
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:58 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+3:33 GOAL - Anthony Grant:Bristol Rovers 4 - 3 Southend Anthony Grant scores an own goal from 6 yards. Bristol Rovers 4-3 Southend.
90:00+2:36 The ball is delivered by Stuart Campbell,
90:00+1:55 A cross is delivered by Andrew Williams, clearance made by Alan McCormack.
90:00+1:31 Andrew Williams delivers the ball, clearance by Jean Francois Christophe.
90:00+0:37 Alan McCormack fouled by Andrew Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
89:47 Anthony Grant takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
88:58 Jean Francois Christophe produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.
86:48 Jeff Hughes delivers the ball, save by Steve Mildenhall.
86:21 Inswinging corner taken by Stuart Campbell from the left by-line, clearance made by Jean Francois Christophe.
86:15 The ball is crossed by Andrew Williams, Simon Francis manages to make a clearance.
83:51 The ball is swung over by Daniel Jones.
81:19 Substitution Carl Regan is brought on as a substitute for Byron Anthony.
81:19 Booking The referee cautions Chris Lines for unsporting behaviour.
80:48 Chris Lines challenges Alan McCormack unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
77:02 Scott Spencer is caught offside. Mikkel Andersen takes the direct free kick.
76:10 Byron Anthony delivers the ball, save made by Steve Mildenhall.
75:41 Scott Spencer takes a shot. Blocked by Mikkel Andersen.
74:01 Stuart Campbell takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Jean Francois Christophe.
73:55 Centre by Andrew Williams, clearance made by Adam Barrett.
73:06 The ball is swung over by Simon Francis, save by Mikkel Andersen.
69:48 Booking Booking for Anthony Grant.
69:28 Anthony Grant gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Lines. Direct free kick taken by Jeff Hughes.
69:09 Alan McCormack sends in a cross, clearance by Byron Anthony.
68:16 Foul by Byron Anthony on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall restarts play with the free kick.
66:43 Substitution Andrew Williams joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dominic Blizzard.
66:43 Stuart Campbell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan McCormack. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
66:03 Jeff Hughes fouled by Simon Francis, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Campbell crosses the ball in from the free kick, Alan McCormack manages to make a clearance.
64:09 Sent off Franck Moussa sent off.
64:04 Booking Byron Anthony receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
63:16 Franck Moussa has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.
62:46 Corner taken left-footed by Johnny Herd from the right by-line to the near post, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.
62:22 Inswinging corner taken by Simon Francis, clearance by Jeff Hughes.
62:14 Scott Vernon delivers the ball, Danny Coles gets a block in.
60:30 Stuart Campbell delivers the ball in from the corner, Anthony Grant manages to make a clearance.
59:38 Johnny Herd produces a cross, Byron Anthony makes a clearance.
59:24 Simon Francis delivers the ball, clearance made by Steve Elliott.
58:43 Unfair challenge on Jeff Hughes by Simon Francis results in a free kick. Stuart Campbell restarts play with the free kick.
56:55 Assist by Simon Francis.
56:55 GOAL - Scott Vernon:Bristol Rovers 3 - 3 Southend Scott Vernon grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Bristol Rovers 3-3 Southend.
56:40 Simon Francis takes a inswinging corner to the near post,
56:17 The ball is sent over by Simon Francis, Shot by Scott Spencer. Mikkel Andersen gets a block in.
54:35 Jo Kuffour is ruled offside. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
53:22 Alan McCormack produces a drilled right-footed shot from inside the area and hits the post. Franck Moussa takes a shot. Danny Coles makes a clearance.
52:42 The ball is sent over by Anthony Grant, save by Mikkel Andersen.
51:03 Assist on the goal came from Jo Kuffour.
51:03 GOAL - Jeff Hughes:Bristol Rovers 3 - 2 Southend Jeff Hughes gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 3-2 Southend.
Correction - 50:03 Header on goal by Adam Barrett from just inside the area goes over the target.
50:03 Header on goal by Steve Elliott from just inside the area goes over the goal.
49:32 The ball is sent over by Simon Francis, blocked by Daniel Jones.
49:20 Centre by Johnny Herd, Danny Coles manages to make a clearance.
48:05 The ball is crossed by Jeff Hughes, Effort from outside the penalty box by Jo Kuffour goes wide right of the target.
47:41 Unfair challenge on Jeff Hughes by Anthony Grant results in a free kick. Steve Elliott takes the direct free kick.
46:37 Chris Lines gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jean Francois Christophe. Adam Barrett takes the free kick.
45:40 Dominic Blizzard has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:23 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+1:30 Stuart Campbell fouled by Jean Francois Christophe, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Lines takes the free kick.
43:54 The offside flag is raised against Alan McCormack. Free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.
41:02 Daniel Jones fouled by Alan McCormack, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Elliott restarts play with the free kick.
40:30 Unfair challenge on Jean Francois Christophe by Byron Anthony results in a free kick. Simon Francis delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, save made by Mikkel Andersen.
39:48 Short corner taken by Stuart Campbell from the left by-line, Pat Baldwin makes a clearance.
39:39 Jo Kuffour sends in a cross, Simon Francis gets a block in.
37:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jean Francois Christophe by Chris Lines. Alan McCormack takes the free kick.
37:03 GOAL - Jeff Hughes:Bristol Rovers 2 - 2 Southend Jeff Hughes scores a placed penalty. Bristol Rovers 2-2 Southend.
36:26 Booking The referee cautions Alan McCormack for dissent.
35:51 Simon Francis challenges Chris Lines unfairly and gives away a Penalty.
34:59 Shot from outside the box by Paul Heffernan misses to the left of the target.
33:43 GOAL - Jo Kuffour:Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Southend Goal scored by Jo Kuffour from just inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Bristol Rovers 1-2 Southend.
32:47 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Spencer. Free kick taken by Steve Elliott.
32:14 Simon Francis produces a cross, Mikkel Andersen makes a save.
31:51 Corner taken by Simon Francis from the left by-line, clearance by Byron Anthony.
31:41 The ball is delivered by Scott Spencer, Mikkel Andersen gets a block in.
29:17 Anthony Grant is adjudged to have handled the ball. Daniel Jones delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Anthony Grant.
27:38 Steve Elliott takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.
27:05 Corner taken by Stuart Campbell played to the near post, clearance by Jean Francois Christophe.
25:54 Centre by Jeff Hughes, save by Steve Mildenhall.
25:23 Corner crossed in by Stuart Campbell, Simon Francis makes a clearance.
25:17 Jo Kuffour produces a cross, clearance by Pat Baldwin.
24:29 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Simon Francis from the left by-line, clearance made by Byron Anthony.
24:24 Alan McCormack produces a cross, blocked by Danny Coles.
24:00 The ball is delivered by Simon Francis, clearance by Chris Lines.
23:14 Johnny Herd sends in a cross, Jeff Hughes manages to make a clearance.
22:52 The ball is sent over by Johnny Herd, Chris Lines gets a block in.
22:41 Centre by Scott Spencer, clearance by Jeff Hughes.
21:54 Steve Elliott fouled by Jean Francois Christophe, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.
20:47 Jean Francois Christophe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Lines. Steve Elliott takes the direct free kick.
20:09 Long range effort by Paul Heffernan goes wide right of the target.
19:36 Scott Spencer is penalised for a handball. Mikkel Andersen restarts play with the free kick.
19:05 Centre by Daniel Jones, Chris Lines takes a shot. Steve Mildenhall makes a save.
18:43 Daniel Jones fouled by Anthony Grant, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stuart Campbell.
17:00 Alan McCormack produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
14:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dominic Blizzard by Franck Moussa. Mikkel Andersen takes the free kick.
13:51 Unfair challenge on Alan McCormack by Chris Lines results in a free kick. Alan McCormack takes the direct free kick.
11:16 Assist on the goal came from Adam Barrett.
11:16 GOAL - Scott Spencer:Bristol Rovers 0 - 2 Southend Scott Spencer finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 0-2 Southend.
7:43 Johnny Herd takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Danny Coles manages to make a clearance.
4:33 GOAL - Scott Vernon:Bristol Rovers 0 - 1 Southend Scott Vernon scores a placed penalty. Bristol Rovers 0-1 Southend.
2:02 Penalty awarded for a foul by Mikkel Andersen on Scott Vernon.
1:19 Effort from outside the box by Anthony Grant goes wide right of the target.
0:00 The game gets underway.
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