SOUTHEND United let slip a two goal lead to draw 2-2 at Sheffield United this afternoon.

First half strikes from Ryan Leonard and Jack Payne handed the Shrimpers a two goal cushion at Bramall Lane.

But Jose Baxter and Neill Collins hit back for the Blades before half-time.

And the home-side struck the woodwork three times in the second half as Blues dug deep to secure a share of the spoils.

Southend saw plenty of the ball early on with Leonard firing a long range effort wide of the left post.

But the Blades soon hit back with former Shrimpers winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce cutting in off the left flank before curling a 20 yard effort over the crossbar.

However, after surviving the scare, Blues replied to open the scoring in the 29th minute, with Leonard on target for the third time in four games.

The midfielder teed up himself from fully 25 yards out after Kevan Hurst’s left wing corner had been cleared into his path and slammed a fantastic effort into the back of the net via the inside of the left post.

Two minutes later, things got even better for Blues, with Payne bagging his first goal of the season.

The attacking midfielder was played into the left hand side of the penalty area by Ben Coker and drilled a fine, left footed finish into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The quick-fire double strike stunned the Blades but the hosts were back in the game just five minutes later when Baxter prodded the ball home from close range following some hesitant Shrimpers defending from Paul Coutts’ right wing corner.

Boosted by the goal, the Blades hit back to equalise on the stroke of half-time when Collins was allowed far too much time and space to control Coutts’ left wing cross before stroking home a controlled, left footed shot from 12 yards.

The start of the second half was far less eventful and, in a bid to get his side going again, Blues boss Phil Brown made his first change of the game in the 64th minute with Joe Pigott coming on to replace David Mooney.

Immediately after the alteration, the Shrimpers came close to going back in front when Worrall headed a left wing cross from Hurst just past the right post.

With 69 minutes on the clock, Blues made a second substitution with Myles Weston coming on to replace Hurst.

But it was the hosts who still threatened next as Shrimpers goalkeeper Daniel Bentley impressively rushed off his line to block an eight yard shot from Billy Sharp.

With the Blades continuing to push for a third goal, Baxter then slammed a 20 yard shot against the foot of the left post.

And, just seconds later, Chris Basham saw his header strike the outside of the opposite upright.

To try and stem the pressure from the home-side, the Shrimpers made a third change in the 75th minute as Payne made way for Michael Timlin.

Following the midfielder’s introduction, Blues threatened to take the lead as Will Atkinson’s surge forward resulted in David Worrall firing over from 12 yards.

However, the Blades were soon back on top and they were denied by the woodwork for a third time just five minutes from time when Sharp fired a 20 yard shot against the right upright as the game ended all square.