A FURIOUS Phil Brown felt his Southend United were ‘beaten by a linesman’ at Walsall on Saturday.

The promotion pushing Saddlers secured a 1-0 win when Jordy Hiwula headed home Kieron Morris’ corner two minutes from time.

But Brown was adamant the ball had not crossed the goal-line.

“I cannot see the ball crossing the line and I cannot see how the linesman can give that,” fumed Brown.

“The ball hasn’t bounced over the line, it’s on the line and then Kevan Hurst clears it.

“I think the linesman has been sucked in by the great atmosphere and, with the little pitch invasion there was when they scored, he probably felt quite good about himself when he gave it.

“We’ve been unhinged by a poor decision and it’s tough to take because a point would have been a decent result here.

“We would like getting one too with Daniel Bentley outstanding in goal but he’s been beaten by a linesman not a goal from Walsall.”

Echo:

Over the line? Walsall's goal bounces down onto the goal-line

Brown conceded Walsall had played better than Blues who now sit 13th in the League One table.

But it was more than just the officials which angered the Shrimpers chief as his side conceded in a frustratingly familiar way.

“It’s our Achilles heel again,” said Brown.

“That’s 22 goals we’ve conceded from set pieces now and 12 of them are from corners.

“We allowed them a free header in the six yard box and you can’t afford to do that.

“Unfortunately it was Dave Worrall’s man who scored but it wasn’t his fault.

“We’ve been guilty of it all season and it has to change.”

Blues, who host Oldham Athletic at Roots Hall tomorrow, have now triumphed just three times in their last 13 games.

But Brown wants the Shrimpers to use the latest setback as extra motivation for next season.

“I said to the players in there at the end to remember what this feels like and what you can hear in there because that’s what we want next season,” said Brown.

“We want to be up there challenging like Walsall and that’s what we will keep on working towards.”