A STOPPAGE-TIME strike from Mark Beevers saw a patched up Southend United side suffer a cruel 1-0 defeat against high-flying Bolton Wanderers at Roots Hall tonight.

The Shrimpers – who had boss Phil Brown sent to the stands for the final 10 minutes – seemed set for a share of the spoils.

But Beevers netted a dramatic late strike to end Blues’ four match winning run.

Southend were forced into making three changes for the game as Ben Coker (knee) and Anton Ferdinand (calf) both missed out along with the suspended Ryan Leonard.

And, just 10 minutes into the game, came another enforced alteration as the recalled Ryan Inniss went down with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

The on loan Crystal Palace defender received six minutes of medical attention before making his way off the pitch and being replaced at the heart of the back four by John White.

Shortly after the substitution, the Trotters came close to breaking the deadlock when Felipe Morais’ left wing corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble which saw Nile Ranger block a goalbound effort from Gary Madine.

Moments later, Ranger was involved at the other end of the pitch as Bolton goalkeeper Mark Howard fumbled a left wing cross from Michael Timlin and the striker saw his scrambled shot cleared in front of goal by former Blues loanee Dorian Dervite.

But, after surviving the scare, Bolton came even closer to taking the lead in the 32nd minute when Madine headed Morais’ right wing cross against the outside of the right post from eight yards.

With the visitors continuing to push forward, Adam Le Fondre then volleyed over when well placed inside the penalty area and, on the stroke of half-time, Le Fondre saw another effort well saved by Christian Walton only for the ball to rebound off Michael Timlin and hit the outside of the right post.

After the break, Blues hit back with Simon Cox having a 20 yard shot smothered by Howard before Will Atkinson fired tamely over after being teed up by Cox.

The Shrimpers stand-in skipper Timlin then also fired over from the edge of the penalty area before Stephen McLaughlin sent a fizzing 30 yard shot inches over the crossbar.

McLaughlin immediately made way for Jermaine McGlashan in the 69th minute before the visitors got back into the game with Le Fondre teeing up Max Clayton whose effort was impressively diverted over the crossbar by Blues’ on loan goalkeeper Christian Walton.

After surviving the scare, the Shrimpers were soon creaming for a penalty when Ranger went down in the area while under pressure from Mark Beevers.

However, referee Charles Breakspear opted to wave play on and then sent Blues boss Brown into the stands for taking his subsequent protests too far.

Shortly after Brown’s dismissal came a third substitution as Marc-Antoine Fortune replaced Simon Cox but it was Bolton who netted right at death.

Walton had done brilliantly to tip Clayton’s header wide of the left post but, from the resulting Morais corner, Beevers turned to fire home from eight yards.