Southend midfielder Anthony Grant headed an injury-time own goal to gift Bristol Rovers an undeserved 4-3 victory.

Grant the fall guy in remarkable clash

Southend midfielder Anthony Grant headed an injury-time own goal to gift Bristol Rovers an undeserved 4-3 victory in a thriller at the Memorial Stadium. Striker Scott Vernon put Southend in front with a fifth-minute penalty after he had been upended by Pirates goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen and Scott Spencer doubled the Shrimpers' advantage by volleying home seven minutes later. But Jo Kuffour's 35th-minute lob and a spot-kick from Jeff Hughes two minutes later brought Rovers level after Simon Francis brought down Chris Lines. Hughes then stunned Steve Tilson's side by putting Rovers in front after 50 minutes only for the impressive Vernon to head Southend level from a 57th-minute corner. Southend were left with an uphill battle when midfielder Frank Moussa was sent off for kicking out at Bryan Anthony after 65 minutes but the relegation-threatened Essex club looked set to hold out until the unlucky Grant deflected in a Stuart Campbell cross right at the death.