TWO-TON PHIL LOVES HIS BIG DAY
SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown celebrated his 200th game in charge of the Shrimpers with three prized points as a perfect present.
Southend fought back from going behind to secure a welldeserved win at Roots Hall which knocked the Iron off the top of the League One table.
And Brown was delighted to reach his double century with a memorable victory, which saw the Shrimpers move up into the play-off positions.
“Getting to 200 games is a proud moment for me, the chairman and the club and this was the perfect way to mark it,” said Brown.
“This was a big performance against big opposition. We stepped up to the plate and played some wonderful football.
“Our players had a point to prove against the league leaders and they did exactly that.
“We’re nicely poised going into the final third of the season now.”
Scunthorpe’s miserable afternoon was compounded five minutes from time when Neal Bishop was sent off for violent conduct.
But the Iron initially seemed set for a successful away trip when Duane Holmes’ deep freekick was missed by Southend goalkeeper Ted Smith.
He could only turn to look in horror as Bishop’s looping header struck the crossbar before Murray Wallace gleefully nodded home the resulting rebound.
However, the Shrimpers hit back to equalise in the 39th minute when Marc-Antoine Fortune headed home Simon Cox’s left-wing cross from close range.
Southend stayed on top after the break with Fortune having a low shot blocked by Scunthorpe goalkeeper Luke Daniels.
But the Shrimpers were not to be denied and took the lead in the 76th minute when substitute Jermaine McGlashan sprinted down the left wing and delivered a low cross which was fired home from close range by Cox for his tenth goal of the season.
Southend then sealed their win in the 81st minute when Leonard poked home a left-wing cross from the rampaging Ben Coker before Scunthorpe’s misery was compounded five minutes from time when Bishop was dismissed for kicking out at Jason Demetriou.
And the manner of the defeat frustrated Iron boss Graham Alexander.
“We had however many bookings and a sending off and it’s contributed to us losing the game,” said Alexander.
“We started really well with energy. We got a goal but from that moment things conspired against us.
“We found it extremely hard to keep our composure and our frustration showed in our
play.”