Lee Barnard scored the only goal as Southend maintained their play-off push with a 1-0 win over a sorry Walsall side at Roots Hall.Barnard's fifth goal of the season after 47 minutes earned the Blues the points - but they should have won by a more convincing margin.

Southend should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when James Walker burst into the box and shot wide with the Walsall defence trailing in his wake.

Mark Gower was denied after 44 minutes by the woodwork when his 30-yard right-foot rocket bounced off the underside of the bar and bounced to safety with keeper Clayton Ince beaten. But three minutes after half-time Southend took the lead when Gower released Mulgrew, whose cross into the box took a deflection off Anthony Gerrard before Barnard got the final touch.

The Shrimpers continued to dominate with Gower and Barnard firing at keeper Clayton Ince.

Ince turned a Simon Francis shot over, while Gerrard cleared another Walker effort off the line before Stefan Moore saw Walsall's only shot on target safely held by keeper Darryl Flahavan.

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