Match report: Southend United 1, Plymouth Argyle 1

The Shrimpers – who were seen off 5-0 at Rotherham United last weekend – dominated early on and took the lead after just six minutes when Sonny Bradley fired the ball past his own goalkeeper.

However, the Pilgrims improved after the break and Ryan Edwards’ header from Graham Carey’s corner ensured the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Blues began brightly at Roots Hall with Ryan Leonard volleying wide from long range before Simon Cox headed over following a neatly constructed counter-attack.

But, with six minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers made the breakthrough following excellent work down the right flank from Jermaine McGlashan.

The winger charged down an attempted clearance from Gary Sawyer before charging forward and delivering cross which defender Sonny Bradley diverted past his own goalkeeper at the near post.

Moments later, Leonard sent a well struck 20 yard shot inches over the crossbar before the midfielder broke into the box and saw his low cross only just missed by a sliding Cox.

Plymouth soon hit back with Nathan Bissett having a powerful low effort well saved by Mark Oxley before Blues almost doubled their lead just before the break when Ryan Edwards diverted Stephen Hendrie’s left wing cross inches past his own left post.

At the start of the second half, Shrimpers’ striker Marc-Antoine Fortune sent a low 20 yard shot straight at Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick before the Pilgrims hit back with Blissett seeing his shot smartly smothered by Oxley.

But Argyle were not to be denied for long and they drew back level in the 62nd minute when Ryan Edwards rose to head home a left wing corner from Graham Carey.

Blues responded to the goal by bringing on Theo Robinson in place of Simon Cox in attack but goalscoring opportunities remained few and far between.

Michael Kightly saw one half chance saved by McCormick before Oxley did superbly well to deny Carey late on.