Southend United skipper Simon Coleman tried to shoulder the blame for Saturday's last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Third Division pacesetters Darlington.

The Quakers sealed maximum reward from this fixture three minutes into injury time when midfielder Michael Oliver pounced on the counter-attack to rob the Shrimpers of a well deserved point.

However, it could have quite easily gone the other way in Blues' favour, but Coleman missed a point-blank header five minutes from time when it had looked easier to score.

See the full match report in Local Sport "We could have been going home with all three points, and not empty handed, if I had scored and I can't believe I've missed," said the 31-year-old captain.

"I got in front of their player at the far-post and made a good connection with Gordon Connelly's cross and I thought it was a goal, I was only six yards out, but my header somehow went over.

"If I tried to do exactly the same thing again with my eyes closed I know I would score, which makes it even more frustrating.

"But for Darlington to break away eight minutes later and steal all three points deep into injury-time made it even worse and has left all the lads feeling completely demoralised."

Coleman's defensive sidekick Rob Newman, who saw the Darlington winner take a cruel deflection off his boot as he tried to block Oliver's drive with a desperate lunge, was just as gutted.

"I tried to get in the way of the shot, but the ball took a wicked curve off my boot and flew into the goal, which was soul-destroying," admitted the 36-year-old veteran.

"We've improved a lot over the past few weeks and nobody can deny we deserved something from this game, but again things haven't gone our way, which has been the story of our season."

Newman also praised Blues' travelling army of 200 or so fans, who never stopped vocally supporting their footballing heroes throughout the whole 90 minutes.

"Our supporters were magnificent again at Darlington and must be feeling as low as we are," added Newman.

"But they can see that every player is giving them 110 per cent and is desperate to win for them.

"Realistically our season is finished now, we're ten points adrift of the play-offs, which are still mathematically possible to reach, but in all honesty it's time to start looking at next season.

"However, we need to keep showing the same commitment we have at Darlington and get as many points on the board as we can to reward our fans' superb loyalty."

Darlington's win pushed them into third place in the league table, but left Blues floundering in 16th position.

"There was nothing to choose between the two sides, who hacked away for 90 minutes on a difficult pitch," added Southend boss Alan Little.

"But our inability to keep a clean sheet has come back to haunt us yet again and denied us a deserved share of the spoils."

Southend's reserves were to take on Ryman Division Two side Barking at Roots Hall last night in the Essex Senior Cup quarter-finals, kick-off 7.45pm.

It's my fault - Blues skipper Simon Coleman (left) - seen here trying to snuff out a Marco Gabbiadini move - shouldered the blame for Saturday's defeat at Darlington, claiming his missed goal could have won the game for the Shrimpers

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