CONOR McLaughlin’s last minute header handed struggling Fleetwood Town a 2-2 draw at Southend United this afternoon.

The Shrimpers seemed to be heading for all three points when goals from Adam Barrett and Jack Payne overturning Robert Grant’s opener for the visitors.

But Fleetwood salvaged a share of the spoils right at the death with McLaughlin heading home from close range.

Fleetwood, who are fighting to avoid relegation towards the foot of the table, forced two corners inside the opening couple of minutes before Wesley Burns saw a 20 yard shot tipped wide of the left post by Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

In reply, the Shrimpers then also came close to open the scoring when Ryan Leonard’s looping header was nodded on by Stephen McLaughlin, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Antoni Sarcevic.

Moments later, Blues again almost broke the deadlock when McLaughlin’s attempted shot fell to Adam Thompson whose low, right footed shot was saved by the outstretched boot of visiting goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.

But, immediately after surviving the scare, Fleetwood went even closer to going in front when Wesley Burns’ fine right wing cross picked out Robert Grant who headed against the inside of the left post from close range.

Following the missed opportunity the game died down before Stefan Scougall momentarily brought it back to life, in the 39th minute, when he fired straight at Bentley from 20 yards.

However, the visitors were not to be denied for long and they went in front in the 53rd minute, with Grant netting from long range.

The midfielder was teed up by McLaughlin and unleashed a swerving shot from 25 yards which deceived Bentley and flew into the back of the North Bank net.

Blues boss Phil Brown responded by making his first change of the afternoon just six minutes later with Myles Weston coming on to replace Will Atkinson.

And Weston immediately wasted a fine chance to equalise, firing a low right footed shot wide of the left post from 12 yards.

But Weston’s blushes were spared in the 71st minute, with Barrett bagging his fourth goal of the season.

The centre-back was picked out by McLaughlin’s left wing corner and netted with a firm, downward header from eight yards.

However, Fleetwood soon hit back and should have regained the lead in the 78th minute when Grant seemed destined to score, only for his eight yard shot to fly over via a deflection of Ben Coker.

Southend replied by making a second change which saw Sam McQueen replacing McLaughlin and, three minutes after the change, Blues went in front.

Gary Deegan, who was making his 50th appearance for the Shrimpers played a fine path into the of Payne who cut in off the right hand side of the penalty and netted with a powerfully struck left footed shot from 18 yards.

Blues reorganised after going in front with John White replacing David Worrall but they were unable to hang on to their lead as McLaughlin headed home Amari Bell’s left wing cross to secure a share of the spoils.