It was standing room only all the way from Prittlewell as National Express obviously didn't read the fixture list and a few hundred Leeds fans joined the regulars on the way back from the game in the usual four carriage train!
At least we won! (Hope someone took that double, home win and 1-0!)
And deservedly so as Leeds may have had plenty of possession but rarely got through the tight Blues defense and when they did the shooting was high and wide or they found Southend keeper Adam Federici in his usual top form.
An incredible reponse to Saturday's poor showing at Bristol and the Blues management team of Tilson and Brush should take a bow for preparing the team so well.
Southend took the lead after Lubomir Michalik brought down the lively Francis Laurent, a fantastic full debut by the Frenchman, on the edge of the box.
Harding curled in a left-footed free-kick over the four-man Leeds wall and into the top left corner of Casper Ankergren's goal on 18 minutes.
Laurent was everywhere, his fast footwork taking him past challenge after challenge. We've been pushing his claims here at TLG for a couple of weeks but nobody knew what a gem we actually had. Super sub is one thing but this was doing it from the start. The Lord must be worried!
More good news was that Sawyer started and we all saw what was missing from the weekend. Never stopped running until, along with Laurent, tiredness set in during the second half.
Both eventually left to deserved standing ovations along with the hard working Revell.
The hosts had threatened to open the scoring even before Harding struck, and they should have had a second when Ankergren parried a Laurent effort and Hal Robson-Kanu blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Leeds eventually clawed their way back into the game, but were unable to find an equaliser as Jonathan Howson fired straight at Adam Federici, who also parried a Fabian Delph effort, and Jonathan Douglas blasted wide.
And the visitors had a let-off on the stroke of half-time when Michalik appeared to push Laurent over but referee Pat Miller dismissed claims for a penalty.
Leeds started the second half more positively and were denied a goal when Federici scooped Neil Kilkenny's 16-yard shot onto the roof of the net.
At the other end Ankergren avoided a repeat of the first goal by clawing a 25-yard Harding free-kick away for a corner.
Both sides created opportunities, with Alex Revell, easily having his best game for the club, just off target for Blues.
Leeds pushed hard for the equaliser, as Southend decided to hold out for what they already had, with substitutes, fat boy Andy Robinson, (we lost Gower because of him, don't know what the Swanny fans were moaning about, they were well shot of him), and Robert Snodgrass enjoying the best chances.
Even time for a bit of handbags as sub Snoppy decided to have words with Robinson after he brought Grant down needlessly in injury time at the end.
In fact Leeds were guilty of some incredible play acting that went unpunished by the referee. Really lads, you keep telling us you remain a big club act so try behaving like one, your not in the Champions League any more. I expect more from a Gary MacAllister managed side.
The whistle went and Southend find themselves back up to seventh place, a terrific game which Blues deserved to win but I have no doubt that both these teams will be in the shake up come May.
To add to the mood of celebration it was even snowing by the I time got home!
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