Three red cards wreck Blues' challenge

Match report

Facts and figures

Who's next?

Wing-back Julian Hails, Gooding himself and midfielder Kevin Maher were all dismissed by the ref.

Martin said: "I knew we were in trouble after less than 10 minutes and it had nothing to do with Swansea - I looked at the referee's face and body language and thought this is somebody who would cause a problem and that's exactly how it turned out.

"I just can't understand what went on out there - decisions went against us all afternoon and I don't just mean the sendings off.

"When decisions have gone against us in the past I've stayed clear of criticising referees - you have to accept them but this was totally unacceptable.

"My job could be on the line because of decisions like this by an amateur referee and I can't take that.

"But there's little I can do other than to say how poor he was in my report."

Gooding described Hall's display as "unbelievable" and went on: "It was never a dirty game and yet we've had three men sent off - it's just ridiculous.

"We should have realised what was in store for us even before the kick-off.

"He rang the bell which indicates we've got to be ready to come out but was banging on the dressing room door within five seconds - some of the lads were still tying up their socks.

"He wasn't happy because we weren't quite ready and I feel that started him off for the rest of the afternoon."

Martin added: "There was no point in me trying to speak to the referee because he showed all the way through that he didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Some referees are very approachable after a game and will chat over their decisions but this man ruled out any form of communication."

Match report

Southend United's clash at Swansea on Saturday erupted into angry scenes at the end of a highly controversial and disastrous 90 minutes.

Blues finished with only eight men after one of the poorest refereeing performances it has been my misfortune to witness for years.

Andy Hall of Birmingham took a decisive hand after just 25 minutes when he sent off wing-back Julian Hails, below, for two fouls which were hardly worthy of a yellow card let alone the eventual red.

Then two minutes from time assistant manager Mick Goodingwas sent for an early bath after another innocuous challenge had Mr Hall seeing red again.

And it was revealed afterwards that midfielder Kevin Maher was dismissed for "violent conduct" with the final tackle of an amazing and explosive game.

The final whistle saw furious manager Alvin Martin and some of his players making their feelings known to the official, who had to be escorted from the pitch.

However, by then the damage had been cruelly done - the ref even giving Swansea a highly-debatable penalty, which they fluffed.

It was the dismissal of Hails which had the biggest influence on the match. Southend had a mammoth task from then on against a Swansea side in red-hot form after collecting seven points from their previous three games.

To their credit Blues never gave up the fight and even drew level at one stage, but in the end the odds were stacked too heavily against them with the third goal deep into injury time driving the final nail in the coffin.

It seemed that nearly every decision went against Southend as a vociferous home crowd appeared to influence the referee's actions. And Swansea took full advantage putting Blues under intense pressure at times with a series of doubtful free-kicks, but for the most part the defence coped well.

Skipper Simon Coleman was outstanding. He was always cool and unflappable during the havoc and confusion wreaked by Mr Hall and his not so merry men on the line.

There were early signs that Southend could do damage at the other end with David Whyte within inches of a goal after just two minutes when his pace took him clear of the defence.

However, once Swansea scored seven minutes after Hails disappeared down the tunnel there was always the air of inevitability about the final result.

Sure Rob Newman cancelled out Julian Alsop's header with a thundering volley three minutes before the break, but it was hard to see how Southend were going to escape with any reward for their toil.

Two minutes into the second-half 'keeper Martyn Margetson was judged to have brought down Jason Price and was booked for his pains, but Steve Watkin blazed the spot kick high over the bar.

Barry Conlon might have done better with a header when Mark Stimson's corner found him at the far post and then Gooding had a goalbound shot charged down.

As if to underline Southend's rough luck, Swansea broke straight upfield after that let off and a rare blunder from Margetson when he spilled a shot from sub Dave O'Gorman presented Watkin with a 73rd minute gift he could not miss.

Southend still refused to throw in the towel and Adrian Clarke went agonisingly close with a snap shot which flashed across the face of the goal.

Then came Gooding's exit and with Blues pressing for an equaliser Swansea sub Tony Bird raced through a stretched rearguard to rub salt into the gaping wounds and put the result beyond doubt in injury time.

Main picture: Fury - referee Hall is escorted off the pitch after Blues boss Alvin Martin and his players remonstrated with him

Match facts and figures

Swansea City (1) 3 (Alsop, 32, Watkin, 73, Bird, 90)

Southend Utd (1) 1 (Newman, 42)

Attendance: 3,890.

Swansea: Freestone; Jones (sub 67 minutes O'Gorman), Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, Price, Thomas (sub 62 minutes Jenkins), Alsop, Watkin (sub 87 minutes Bird), Appleby.

Southend (In 3-5-2 formation with ratings out of 10):

Margetson 6 - made a rare boob for the all-important second goal.

Morley 7 - got in some vital saving tackles and stuck to his task well.

Newman 7 - always a tower of strength during a backs-to-wall spell.

COLEMAN 8 - a cool customer who did not deserve to be on the losing side.

Hails 5 - unfortunate to be sent-off, but was struggling to cope with Appleby's pace.

Maher 6 - found it hard going in the very competitive midfield area.

Gooding 7 - always involved and gave his usual 100 per cent commitment.

Clarke 6 - an in-and-out game. He needs to find more consistency.

Stimson 7 - tried hard to set things up but refused to buckle.

Conlon 7 - a lively attack leader who was always available to try and take the pressure off.

Whyte 6 - good pace but his control let him down at times.

Sub: Fitzpatrick 6 - replaced Whyte after 74 minutes but could not get into the game.

Subs (not used): Dublin, Jones.

Referee: AR Hall (Birming-ham) 2.

Bookings: Swansea - Thomas (16 minutes foul), Appleby (77 minutes foul). Southend - Hails (20 and 23 minutes fouls), Gooding (28 minutes dissent, 87 minutes foul), Margetson (46 minutes foul).

Sent off - Hails (23 minutes second bookable offence), Gooding, (87 minutes second bookable offence), Maher (90 minutes violent conduct).

Shots/headers on target: Swansea 9, Southend 4.

Corners: Swansea 10, Southend 7.

Blues' next opponents

It is becoming increasingly clear that Southend United must produce a quick revival if this is not to become another season to forget at Roots Hall.

Certainly the form book suggests that they should collect three points next Saturday when Rochdale are the visitors.

The northern side have been beaten in four of their five Division Three games played away from home so far and are 20th in the table.

However, there are clear warning signs for Alvin Martin's men in the fact that Rochdale may be eight places behind them but trail them by only three points.

Elsewhere, Scunthorpe are the new leaders with 22 points - eight clear of Blues - following a 3-1 win at Brighton where Gary Hart, who played for Stansted in the Schweppes Essex Senior League last season, was again the home marksman.

Previous top dogs Darlington were crushed 3-0 at Brentford.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.