A last-gasp strike from Tes Bramble salvaged a draw for Southend away to 10-man Hull City.
Hull, promotion favourites, raced into the lead in the eighth minute when Stuart Green latched onto Lawrie Dudfield's through-ball and slid it home.
But Southend battled back and Mark Rawle should have equalised before they eventually drew level in the second half, Neil Jenkins curling home a superb left-foot strike following Kevin Maher's corner.
Hull regained the advantage, however, when Green released Stuart Elliott who drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Bramble had the last laugh, though, as he volleyed home his deflected last-minute equaliser.
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