SOUTHEND United are set for a final day shoot-out to decide who will secure the final automatic promotion position in League Two this season.

Following Blues’ 2-0 victory at Oxford United at the weekend, they are now just a point behind both third placed Crawley Town and Torquay United, in fourth, with only one game to go.

Paul Sturrock’s side host bottom-of-the-table Macclesfield Town at Roots Hall on Saturday.

And, if they can better the results of the two teams above them, then Southend will be celebrating a return to League One.

“It’s unbelievable that it’s gone to the final day of the season and that we’re still in with a chance of the top three,” said Sturrock, whose side remain fifth in the table.

“You wouldn’t have thought things would have unfolded in this way but plenty still needs to happen for us to get third.

“We need two other teams to drop points and then for us to beat Macclesfield, which won’t be easy.

“But you wouldn’t have expected the set of results we got on Saturday, so who knows what might happen, and I’m pleased it’s gone to the last day, especially for the fans.

“We had 1,200 at Oxford cheering us on and I really thought they were different class.”

First half goals from Ryan Hall and Bilel Mohsni ensured those supporters returned to Essex happy.

Their mood was further boosted by Crawley losing 3-0 at home to struggling Hereford United and Torquay being held to a 1-1 draw by Crewe Alexandra.

And that also pleased Blues winger Mohsni, who took his season’s tally to 13 with a neat header against the U’s.

“We were all very pleased to beat Oxford and then hearing the other results made us even happier,” said Mohsni.

“You get results like that in this league and I don’t think you can ever say who is going to beat who.

“That is what makes Saturday so exciting and hopefully things will go our way because I want to be able to party with our fans at the end of the game.”

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO