SOUTHEND United now sit seven points from safety after conceding a painful injury time equaliser at Scunthorpe United this afternoon.

The second from bottom Shrimpers seemed set for their first ever win at Glanford Park when a penalty from Ashley Nathaniel-George put them 1-0 in front with just 11 minutes to go.

The Iron’s Jordan Clarke was also sent off for giving away the penalty but Blues were still unable to see the game out as Alfie Beestin netted a last gasp equaliser.

Before the late drama unfolded, Scunthorpe striker Kevin van Veen fired inches over from 25 yards before Blues hit back with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild cutting in from the left flank before firing over from 20 yards.

Moments later, Ricky Holmes sent a scuffed effort straight at Scunthorpe goalkeeper Mark Howard after an overhit attempted pass from Simeon Akinola before the hosts hit back with Ryan Loft heading a right corner from van Veen inches wide of the left post.

Blues replied with Akinola failing to make a clean connection from Hackett-Fairchild’s left wing cross before the striker saw another effort cleared away from goal by the Iron’s Jai Rowe.

A mis-hit effort from Timothee Dieng then bounced wide of the right post before the Shrimpers came close to scoring just before the break when a left-wing cross from Nathan Ferguson was stabbed inches wide of the left upright by Holmes.

After the break, a long range effort from Alan McCormack was tipped over by Howard before the Irishman and Holmes made way in a double substitution which saw Kyle Taylor and Ashley Nathaniel-George enter the action.

The two new faces were immediately involved as Nathaniel-George teed up Taylor who fired over from 20 yards before the Shrimpers made a third change in the 71st minute with Brandon Goodship coming on for Akinola.

However, it was a Scunthorpe substitute who threatened next as a low 20 yard shot from Abo Eisa struck the outside of the left post.

But, after surviving the scare, Southend hit back and broke the deadlock in the 79th minute with Nathaniel-George scoring his first goal for the club from the penalty spot.

Referee Rob Lewis pointed to the spot after Clarke had pushed Dieng to the floor and the Iron skipper was also sent off for the foul.

Nathaniel-George made the most of the opportunity as he sent the spot-kick into the right hand side of the net for the Shrimpers’ first goal in more than 500 minutes of play.

But, despite the extra man, Southend were unable to hang on as Beestin burst into the box to fire home a well-taken left footed shot which sees a second successive relegation looming large for Blues.