SOUTHEND United surged back up to eighth in the League One standings with a well-deserved 3-1 win against Sheffield United at Roots Hall tonight.

Tyrone Barnett, David Worrall and Jack Payne were all on the score-sheet for the Shrimpers.

And the terrific triumph left Phil Brown’s side six points behind the play-off places with seven games still left to play.

Despite the final score-line however, it was the Blades who came close to taking an early lead when Ryan Flynn forced Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley into an excellent save from eight yards.

The visitors then almost broke the deadlock again in the 27th minute when Bentley allowed a long range shot from Billy Sharp to go through his hands before recovering to stop the ball heading over the goal-line.

But, after surviving the scare, Blues hit back and took the lead just 60 seconds later, with Barnett bagging his fifth goal since arriving on loan from Shrewsbury Town.

Barnett, who went into the clash without a goal in six games, reacted sharply after Blades goalkeeper George Long had failed to hold Adam Thompson’s downward header from Worrall’s left wing free-kick and prodded the ball into the back of the net from close range.

However, the Shrimpers were only able to stay in front for six minutes before Dean Hammond headed home an equaliser.

The experienced midfielder was left unmarked at the far post and nodded Matt Done’s free-kick between the legs of Bentley to score.

Blues soon replied with Stephen McLaughlin cutting in off the right flank before having a low, left footed shot tentatively pushed to safety by Long in the closing action of the first half.

After the break, Blades midfielder Che Adams sprinted past several challenges before a brilliant last ditch, sliding tackle from Ben Coker stopped him registering an effort on target.

Moments later, Adams fired over from 12 yards and, in the 56th minute, the visitors wasted an even clearer chance to take the lead when Long’s clearance was misjudged by Coker, enabling Sharp to race clean through on goal.

But, with only Bentley to beat, Sharp over-hit an attempted lob and could only look on in anguish as his effort landed on the roof of the net.

The poor miss soon increased in significance too as Blues regained the lead on the hour mark, with Worrall netting an excellent effort.

The winger received the ball from Payne out wide on the right flank before cutting inside and firing a superb left footed shot into the back of the net, via the inside of the left post, from 25 yards.

Seven minutes after going in front for a second time, the Shrimpers made their first substitution of the night with Sam McQueen coming on to replace a tiring Myles Weston on his first game from injury.

After the alteration, Blues threatened with Barnett having a low, left footed volley smartly smothered by Long before the Shrimpers made a second change with John White coming on for McLaughlin in the 77th minute.

The substitution saw Southend swap to a flat back four before a third swap followed seven minutes later with Ryan Leonard making an unexpected return from injury to replace Worrall.

That enabled Blues to stay on top with Payne doing brilliantly to set up Barnett, only for the striker to fire straight at Long.

But, fittingly, it was Payne who had the final say as the man of the match completed the scoring with a stunning finish in the last minute of the match.

The attacking midfielder bamboozled Done with his quick feet before dinking the ball over the advancing Long to seal another impressive victory for the Shrimpers in front of the Sky Sports cameras.