Super-sub Alan McCormack bagged a precious point for Southend United on Saturday as he swept home an injury time equaliser against Leicester City.

The fit-again midfielder converted from close range to hand the 10-man Shrimpers a crucial share of the spoils from a frantic encounter with the Foxes.

McCormack's former Motherwell team-mate Richie Foran had already been ordered off by the time the midfielder pounced late on for his side's second equaliser of the afternoon.

Striker Freddy Eastwood had earlier brought Blues back level, but in the seventh minute the highly-rated hot-shot came agonisingly close to opening the scoring.

A fine through ball from Kevin Maher sent the 23-year-old clean through on goal, but he was superbly denied by the on-rushing Paul Henderson, who parried away Eastwood's initial shot before recovering to also block his follow up effort from the resulting rebound.

The miss soon increased in importance too as, just two minutes later, Leicester opened the scoring as Levi Porter's left wing cross was headed home by Iain Hume from eight yards.

The breakthrough boosted the Foxes and they almost doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when a free-flowing move resulted in Hume delivering a fine left wing cross onto the head of his strike-partner Geoff Horsfield.

But the forward's aerial effort was smartly pushed around the right post by Darryl Flahavan before the Seasiders survived another scare from the subsequent corner as Porter's cross curled just past the left post.

In reply, Jamal Campbell-Ryce then dragged a 20-yard shot wide of Henderson's goal but play soon switched back to the other end of the field and, with 28 minutes on the clock, Flahavan rushed off his line to block a goal-bound effort from Andy Johnson.

On the stroke of half time however, the visitors came even closer to doubling their lead when Peter Clarke misjudged an awkward ball from Alan Maybury.

That resulted in Hume going through one on one against Flahavan, but the Canadian international could only shoot wide of the left post when a goal seemed certain.

After the break, Blues seemed determined to make the most of the let-off and, in the 53rd minute, they drew back level courtesy of another excellent individual effort from Eastwood.

The Basildon-based goal-getter collected an intelligent pass from Maher before cutting in off the left hand side of the penalty area, past both Gareth McAuley and Richard Stearman, and shooting low into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 16 yards.

The Shrimpers were now looking the stronger of the two sides but on the hour mark Hume was causing more problems as he sent a half-volley over the crossbar from seven yards.

Having survived that scare however, the Seasiders continued to pile forward and in a bid to take the lead manager Steve Tilson introduced McCormack into the action as he replaced the ineffective Lee Bradbury.

That change saw Mark Gower pushed out onto the left flank with Foran moving up front, but just three minutes after the substitution Southend were reduced to 10 men as Foran picked up his second booking.

The Irishman had already been shown a yellow card when he hacked down Jason Jarrett from behind and was immediately ordered off by referee Dean Whitestone.

But despite their numerical disadvantage, Blues almost took the lead when Efe Sodje's header from McCormack left wing cross was impressively palmed onto the crossbar by Henderson's finger-tips.

Leicester again survived and, in the 81st minute, they retook the lead when Elvis Hammond was deemed on-side down the right flank.

That decision enabled the substitute striker to surge on and deliver a low cross for Hume to slide home from six yards, despite the best efforts of Clarke on the goal-line.

The Foxes were then also reduced to 10 men as Maybury was stretchered off with an ankle problem after his side had already used all three of their subs.

That boosted Blues and late on they capitalised on the visitors' misfortune to snatch a dramatic draw.

Eastwood was again the instigator as he burst into the right hand side of the penalty area before seeing his shot smothered in front of goal.

Substitute Matt Harrold did well to keep the move alive though and, following his strong challenge inside the six yard box, the ball broke loose for McCormack to slam home from close range to keep alive his side's chances of surviving in the Championship.