There was more late drama for Southend United on Saturday.

But after having their hearts broken at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, it was this time Blues' turn to benefit from a last gasp goal as Alan McCormack converted from close range to stop Steve Tilson's side suffering a fourth successive defeat.

The injury-time leveller again emphasised McCormack's importance to the team as his arrival from Preston North End in November was a catalyst for the Shrimpers finally adjusting to life at this level.

His infectious energy and tough tackling in the centre of the park gets the rest of the team going, while also raising the tempo of the Seasiders, who continue to fight in a bid to maintain their Championship status.

Those survival hopes would have been boosted had McCormack or a player of his ilk been in place at the beginning of the campaign.

But with Luke Guttridge surprisingly unable to deal with the step up to the demands of the Championship, Blues were forced to field defenders Peter Clarke and then Lewis Hunt in midfield before McCormack's arrival.

Had Mark Bentley still been at the club things may have been different during that spell, but when McCormack came in it did not take long for Southend to end a horrendous run of results and get themselves back in contention with the other sides in and around them.

They have averaged 1.14 points a game with him in their side and had that been the case since August they would currently be above the dreaded drop zone with 41 points already to their name.

That, of course, is not the case but Saturday's draw from an entertaining encounter with Leicester again saw the Seasiders close the gap on the sides above them in table.

But, whether or not the damage had ultimately been done before McCormack came to the club, only time and the league table in May will tell.