SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown defended his decision to subsitute Jack Payne during his side's 1-1 draw against Oxford United on Saturday.

The Shrimpers chief was criticised by supporters after opting to take off the goalscorer just past the hour mark at Roots Hall.

But Brown felt Payne was starting to tire and he also wanted to make the team more solid as they attempted to hang on to their 1-0 lead.

“I thought Jack was magnificent and I'm sure a lot of people will be asking why I substituted him but he's a young man playing his second game of the week and a lot of things will have been going on in his head,” explained the Blues boss.

“There would've been a lot of emotion and I thought his legs were just starting to tire a wee bit.

“I also made the change to give us a solid foundation to try and win the game but the luck is going against us at the moment.”

As a result, Payne's opener was cancelled out by Danny Hylton's penalty midway through the second half.

But Brown felt the spot-kick, which was awarded when Hylton was adjudged to have been brought down by Luke Prosser, should not have been given.

“Their lad has admitted he didn't get touched,” fumed Brown.

“Jack Payne went down in the first half for what would've been a soft penalty but it was the same scenario for them and it got given.

“If he had given both then I would've understood it but there's just no continuity or consistency.”

Hylton confidently despatched the penalty to ensure the game ended all square.

However, having seen the visitors enjoy the better of the second half, Brown was pleased to have picked up at least a point.

“It was a great point for us,” said Brown.

“Oxford were by far the better team in the second half.

“They got on the end of things more than us. We stopped playing and I've no idea why. .

“If we had hung on to 1-0 then our season would've been kick started again.

“But we've got a point and it could have been nothing because Daniel Bentley made a couple of great saves.

“The performances aren't worrying but in terms of results we need to turn the corner as quickly as we can.”