SOUTHEND United fought back from a goal behind to triumph 2-1 against Barnsley at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Josh Scowen fired the Tykes in front midway through the first half with a controversial penalty.

But the Shrimpers hit back with goals from Anthony Wordsworth and Luke Prosser securing a sixth victory in seven games.

All the goals came in an entertaining first half.

However, with five minutes on the clock, Barnsley came close to opening the scoring when Michael Smith latched onto an error from Cian Bolger and unleashed a powerful 12 yard shot which was impressively blocked by Daniel Bentley before Dan Crowley’s follow up effort was ruled out for offside.

Crowley soon went close to scoring again when his curling free-kick from 25 yards brushed the side-netting but, with 21 minutes on the clock, Blues also threatened when Myles Weston fired an effort straight at Barnsley goalkeeper Adam Davies from the edge of the penalty area.

But, three minutes later, Barnsley took the lead, courtesy of a controversial penalty scored by Scowen.

Shrimpers goalkeeper Bentley was guilty of the foul after he clattered into Marley Watkins.

But the contact seemed to be made outside the penalty outside and Blues were left stunned when referee Charles Breakspear pointed to the spot.

However, Scowen was not concerned and gleefully accepted the opportunity by sending Bentley the wrong way and firing into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Southend were clearly rattled by going behind but, after regaining their composure, they equalised in the 36th minute, with Wordsworth bagging his first goal for the club.

The summer signing was teed up by good hold up play from Weston and drilled an excellent, left footed shot into the right hand side of the net from 14 yards.

Barnsley soon almost went back in front when Watkins saw a low 12 yard shot superbly kept out by Bentley.

And, having survived the scare, Southend went in front right on the stroke of half-time when Weston’s deflected header landed at the feet of Prosser who slid the ball home, from inside the six yard box, at the far post.

Things soon almost got even better for Blues when Joe Pigott saw an effort ruled out for a delayed offside decision.

After the break, Southend again went close to scoring when a fantastic cross-field pass from Michael Timlin resulted in David Mooney teeing up Weston whose shot from a narrow angle was smothered by Davies.

However, the second half was far less eventful than the first and Blues’ first substitution – which came in the 75th minute - saw them attempt to shore up the midfield with Glen Rea coming on for Wordsworth.

Three minutes later, Will Atkinson replaced Wordsworth before Stephen McLaughlin took Weston’s place late on as the Shrimpers hang on to secure another victory.