FORMER Southend United manager Phil Brown has revealed Simon Hooper admitted he was wrong not to award the Shrimpers a penalty in the 2015 League Two play-off final.

Hooper opted to wave play on when Chairboys defender Joe Jacobson charged into the back of Barry Corr when the Blues striker looked to win a header.

And Hooper knows he should have pointed to the spot.

“There was a big shout for a penalty on Barry Corr,” recalled Brown.

“The referee is now based in Swindon and he used to do pre-season games there so I got to talk to him when I was at Swindon actually.

“I asked him about the penalty shout and he admitted he got that one wrong.

“But he then said he got it right in the end with the added time he put on!”

Blues won promotion into League One in the most dramatic way possible as Joe Pigott netted an injury time equaliser before Brown’s side won on penalties.

And Brown feels everything came together at just the right time for his side.

“We always had that belief but you had Jack Payne making a sliding tackle halfway inside our own half when their player could’ve just kicked it into the stands and it would’ve been game over,” said Brown.

“I don’t think Myles Weston went past a full-back all season but he did this time and it was a great finish from Joe Pigott who probably didn’t get too many like that with his left foot so everything just came together for us.”

And that resulted in the Shrimpers winning on penalties.

But the spot-kick takers had not been chosen until extra time was ended.

“I don’t get involved with the penalty takers but I used to stand and watch them after training,” said Brown.

“Adam Barrett when he stepped up I don’t think he had ever practised but my word if the keeper got in the way of that penalty he would’ve ended up in the back of the stand let alone the net.

“It’s about confidence and belief and who fancies it at the time.

“Our leading goalscorer didn’t fancy taking one but someone like Adam Barrett did and we got the win.

“The celebrations were great too.”