Ten-man Southend United turned the form books upside down at Rotherham as Blues' bravehearts staged a Great Escape act that would have made Steve McQueen proud.

The Shrimpers arrived at Millmoor on the back of a disastrous run which has seen the team pick up a solitary win in their last six league outings - a single goal win over bottom club Scarborough.

In contrast Rotherham had won four out of their last five league matches and being the Third Division's top scorers must have thought they were in for another three points as they went into the half-time interval two goals ahead.

Southend's task was not helped by the 39th minute sending off of forward Neil Campbell who was given his marching orders for raising his arm in frustration at Rotherham's Paul Dillon. Yet the expected second-half goal fest never arrived as the Shrimpers rallied magnificently.

Striker Kevin Rapley pierced Rotherham's wobbling rearguard twice in the second period to grab his first goals in a Southend shirt and it would be no exaggeration to say he could have had four.

However, Rapley's brilliance in the opposition box aside, underfire Southend manager Alvin Martin's substitutions had a major influence on the game as the gallant Shrimpers pulled themselves level.

Martin threw on much-criticised front runner Barry Conlon at half-time and the big Irishman gave Rotherham's experienced central defensive partnership of Alan Knill and Gary Strodder a battering they will not forget in a hurry to make space for Rapley.

Also given a chance with 27 minutes left was new signing Steve McGavin who made an inspired debut as he finally introduced some long-awaited creative flair to Southend's midfield by getting the ball forward and exposing the Millers' defensive flaws.

However, Martin's game plan failed miserably at the beginning as he scrapped the so-called attacking formation which had seen the Blues struggle to one point from their last two games against Carlisle and Torquay - two teams from the Third Division's nether regions.

Winger Adrian Clarke was the man who made way as Martin re-jigged his midfield to bring back dead-ball specialist Simon Livett alongside Kevin Maher and ex-Rotherham favourite Mick Gooding.

However, it was Southend's lack of quality in the centre of the park which cost them so dearly again.

For the first 20 minutes Rotherham were happy to probe their visitors, but as soon as they uncovered the minimal resistance from Southend's midfield they stepped up a gear.

Southend were given their first warning after 22 minutes when Blues keeper Martyn Margetson did well to hold onto a vicious long-range drive from Darren Garner, before denying Steve Thompson five minutes later.

The confident Millers continued to push forward and were finally rewarded when Jamie Ingledow headed home from close range in fortunate circumstances after half-an-hour.

Dillon beat Southend full-back Mark Beard down the left-wing and crossed to Paul Hurst whose shot was deflected into the path of Ingledow on the goal-line with Margetson flat-footed.

Nine minutes later Campbell received his marching orders and it came as no surprise when Rotherham extended their lead two minutes into first-half injury time.

Paul Warne was given time and space in the box to rifle the ball home through Margetson's legs after Garner had lobbed Thompson's half-cleared left-wing corner back into the danger area.

However, the expected second-half annihilation never materialised as Southend's ten men put on a gutsy display which was just as frustrating as their poor performances this season because it proves they can play much better if they want to.

Conlon entered the fray in the place of disappointing winger Scott Houghton and it was his mishit shot from Maher's right-wing cross which created the opportunity for Rapley to hit the bar with a diving header after 50 minutes.

Rapley, who is on loan from Brentford, was at it again three minutes later as he ran onto Maher's header through the right-hand side of Rotherham's box to force a save out of home keeper Mike Pollitt from an acute angle.

However, he got it right after 58 minutes as he steered a low shot across Pollitt from 12 yards following a quickly-taken free kick from Livett which left the Millers flapping.

Rotherham substitute Andy Roscoe nearly put the game out of Southend's reach on 75 minutes when he cut inside Beard and hit a stunning 20-yard drive which Margetson tipped away from the top right-hand corner of his goal.

However, the last word went to Rapley as he demonstrated his deadly accuracy in the box again to earn Southend a deserved point.

Gooding switched the ball out to McGavin in the left channel and his cross was nonchalantly flicked past Rotherham's defence by Conlon allowing Rapley to scamper through and slot the ball past Pollitt.

Footnote for Southend chairman John Main - get your chequebook out andsign up Rapley now before someone else does!

Picture, top: On the ball - Southend right back Mark Beard (right) gave another accomplished performance in the Blues defence at Rotherham on Saturday

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