SOUTHEND United held Championship club Leeds United to a 1-1 draw in their latest pre-season friendly at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Summer signing Harry Lennon headed the Shrimpers in front midway through the first half before Luke Ayling equalised before the break.

But the game fizzled out after the break and ended all square.

Leeds named a strong starting line-up for the clash and midfielder Samuel Saiz sent a early long range effort wide of the target before Blues were forced into making their first change of the afternoon after just nine minutes, with Timothee Dieng limping off.

The French midfielder – who has been an injury doubt before kick-off – was replaced by Luke Hyam in the centre of the park and, shortly after the change, Blues winger Michael Kightly fired over from the left hand side of the penalty area.

However, with 20 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers broke the deadlock when Kightly’s left-wing corner picked out summer signing Lennon who sent a downward header into the right hand side of the North Bank net.

Moments later, Stephen McLaughlin curled a low, 20 yard shot inches wide of the left post before Leeds hit back to equalise in the 34th minute, with Ayling on target.

The right back swapped passes with Adam Forshaw before firing home a well-taken effort from the edge of the penalty area.

In reply, Shrimpers striker Simon Cox fired wide of the left post from 18 yards before the forward’s effort – from Kightly’s free-kick – was gathered by Leeds goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at the start of the second half.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Blues made four changes with Sam Barratt, Renei Batlokwa, Amadou Ba and Theo Robinson entering the action and the new look Shrimpers soon came close to regaining the lead with John White heading inches wide of the right post.

Leeds soon hit back with Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley – who was captaining the team – denying Stuart Dallas and Kemar Roofe in quick succession before the Shrimpers made two more changes with Michael Turner and Michael Klass both coming on.

Elvis Bwomono, Harry Kyprianou and Stephen Hendrie were also introduced late on but it was Leeds who almost won the game late on with Ayling having a low effort blocked on the goal-line by Turner.

Southend United: Oxley, Demetriou, White (Kyprianou 85), Lennon (Turner 76), Coker (Hendrie 85), McLaughlin (Bwomono 85), Mantom (Batlokwa 70), Dieng (Hyam 9 (Klass 76)), Kightly (Barratt 70), Cox (Ba 70), Hooper (Robinson 70)