Lewis Hunt's late handball in the box ruined Southend's hopes of a precious point and gifted Sheffield Wednesday a 3-2 win at Hillsborough.

Steve MacLean smashed home the ensuing penalty to clinch a somewhat fortunate win for Wednesday, who had earlier fallen behind to Hunt's opener.

Marcus Tudgay equalised for the home side and Spencer Prior's own goal gave them the lead before Freddy Eastwood restored parity on the hour mark, but the Owls had the last laugh at Hunt's expense.

Southend began the game like a side intent on keeping a clean sheet, closing their opponents down quickly but showing little interest in creating chances of their own.

The first notable chance of the afternoon arrived after a handball by Wednesday's Lee Bullen. The ensuing free-kick was curled towards the top corner by Richie Foran but he lacked accuracy and the ball drifted wide.

Southend slowly built up some momentum and Jamal Campbell-Ryce forced a corner after 13 minutes.

Foran swung the corner in and it bounced in the area before reaching Hunt at the far post and he had the simple task of tapping it home from close range.

But Southend's lead lasted less than two minutes as Wednesday charged towards goal from the restart and Che Wilson brought down Steve Watson.

Chris Brunt's free-kick picked out the head of Tudgay, who thumped the ball downwards into the corner of the net from 12 yards.

But Campbell-Ryce continued to cause the Owls problems and Efe Sodje should have done better when the winger teed him up for a simple header, but he fired wide.

Southend slipped behind though shortly before the half-hour mark, when Brunt's low cross flashed across the face of goal and Prior, in attempting to clear, sliced the ball into his own net past helpless goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan.

The Southend shot-stopper was called into action moments later as Brunt tried his luck with a powerful, 25-yard effort and Flahavan managed to parry it round the post.

He did the same with Tudgay's drive from the edge of the box and United had their goalkeeper to thank when half-time arrived with only one goal separating the two sides.

Southend boss Steve Tilson was forced to take Wilson off at half time and he sent Simon Francis into defence in his place.

The second half started quietly, coming to life only when Brunt chipped a shot towards goal from the edge of the area but lacked accuracy.

Southend's top goal-scorer Eastwood had been somewhat anonymous by his standards, before he announced his presence with a neat turn and shot from 20 yards that forced Iain Turner into a difficult save, down to his left.

Eastwood then moved up a gear and levelled the scores with a superb solo effort, jinking his way into the Wednesday area before slamming home with his right foot beyond Turner.

Foran, seemingly looking to match his strike partner's exploits, almost hit the winner when he found space 25 yards from goal and stung Turner's palms with a rising shot but the 'keeper managed to hold it.

Wednesday failed to muster a response, and it was Southend who looked more likely to grab a winner when Hunt screwed a shot just wide from 12 yards.

But the same man was adjudged to have handled in the box in the last minute of injury time and MacLean made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Teams:

Sheff Wed Turner, Bullen, Coughlan, Simek, Spurr, Whelan,Brunt (Clarke 74), Watson, Johnson, Tudgay, Burton (MacLean 78).

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Graham, Folly.

Booked: Burton.

Goals: Tudgay 16, Prior 29 og, MacLean 90 pen.

Southend Flahavan, Wilson (Francis 46), Hunt, Prior, Sodje,Gower, Maher, Campbell-Ryce, Foran, Eastwood, Bradbury.

Subs Not Used: Collis, Hooper, Harrold, Moussa.

Booked: Bradbury, Hunt.

Goals: Hunt 15, Eastwood 61.

Att: 24,116

Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).