Brown is fuming as Shrimpers penalised
SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown could not hide his disappointment after a controverisal penalty stopped his side getting back to winning ways against Oxford at Roots Hall.
The Shrimpers looked set to end their fourmatch winless streak when young midfielder Jack Payne put them ahead in the first half.
But Danny Hylton’s 67th- minute spot-kick, which came after he was brought down by Luke Prosser, secured a point for the U’s.
But Southend boss Brown felt it should not have been given.
“Their lad has admitted he hasn’t been touched and it’s just a very soft penalty,” said Brown.
“Earlier Jack Payne went down and if that had been given it would have been soft as well.
“If he had given that penalty and then given theirs I would’ve perhaps understood it a little bit more.
“I questioned the decision and went to see the referee at the end of the game. But I still think it was a great point because Oxford were by far the better team in the second half.
“They got on the end of things more than us. They had nothing else to lose and got their tails up.
“It’s disappointed not to have won but the bottom line is we got a point and it could’ve been nothing because Daniel Bentley has had to make a couple of great saves.”
Southend looked far brighter in the first half and took the lead in the 36th minute with Payne netting his third goal in two games.
The young midfielder was found inside the penalty area by Conor Clifford and drove an impressive low, right footed shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Oxford hit back strongly with Hylton having a well struck volley smothered by Shrimpers goalkeeper Daniel Bentley at the start of the second half.
Hylton then had a curling left foot impressively tipped over by the young Southend goalkeeper.
But Hylton was not to be denied and he soon grabbed his sixth goal of the season with a well-taken penalty that was dispatched into the bottom left-hand corner.
And Oxford manager Michael Appleton was disappointed his side did not go on to win the game.
“We were well on top in the second half and it’s frustrating not to have got the three points,” said Appleton.
“I know I haven’t been in charge here for very long but that was the best 45 minutes of football we’ve played since I’ve been manager.
“I thought it was a stonewall penalty as their lad has left his leg out and it’s disappointing just to have a got a draw.”