The BURKS

Simon Cox's last-gasp winner handed Southend United a dramatic 2-1 victory over Rochdale at Roots Hall as both sides ended the match with 10 men.

The Shrimpers were initially on top, going ahead on 15 minutes when Jermaine McGlashan played in Marc-Antoine Fortune, who rounded the advancing Conrad Logan before tapping home.

Dale then had centre-back Keith Keane sent off seven minutes later for bringing down Fortune when he was clean through on goal.

Southend midfielder Anthony Wordsworth slammed the resulting free-kick against the crossbar before the Shrimpers were also reduced to 10 men on 34 minutes when McGlashan was shown a second yellow card after bringing down Ian Henderson.

Rochdale improved after the break, Calvin Andrew wasting two headers before Jamie Allen's long-range shot was saved by Ted Smith. Dale equalised in the 66th minute when Andrew cut in off the right-hand side and netted with a deflected left-footed shot which looped into the top left-hand corner.

But Southend struck back to secure all three points when Cox netted a brilliant left-footed shot from eight yards.