Alan McCormack threw Southend a Coca-Cola Championship lifeline with a last-gasp equaliser against Leicester at Roots Hall.

The substitute struck from close range a minute from time to secure what could prove to be a vital point for the second-bottom Shrimpers come May.

Iain Hume ended his barren spell with two goals which sandwiched a trademark Freddy Eastwood strike before the hosts were reduced to 10 men when Richie Foran saw red.

But Leicester also finished the game a man down, with Alan Maybury being stretchered off as McCormack bundled home the dramatic leveller.

Southend boss Steve Tilson had challenged his side to claim six victories from their remaining games to stay up, and will have earmarked a home clash with a Leicester team treading water in mid-table as one of those must-win matches.

But with results elsewhere going their way, he will be probably happy with a point from a stormy encounter against a Leicester side now unbeaten in six.

The hosts came desperately close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute but for a stunning double save from Paul Henderson to deny Eastwood.

Skipper Kevin Maher played a clever reverse pass which sent the highly-rated striker through but Henderson pulled off an amazing one-handed save to keep out his first shot and managed to recover in time to block the follow-up.

And moments later Southend were behind when Levi Porter's left-wing cross was glanced home by the unmarked Hume for his 10th goal of the season.

Leicester should have doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Hume crossed to Geoff Horsfield, but the much-travelled forward planted his header straight at Darryl Flahavan.

Flahavan was then called upon to block Andy Johnson's angled shot as the midfielder burst clear.

For the Shrimpers, Peter Clarke headed over, Jamal Campbell-Ryce fired wide and Maher's low drive was comfortably dealt with by Henderson.

Little else went their way in the first half, although they received a huge let-off before the break when Hume outpaced Clarke to leave himself one-on-one with Flahavan, only to dink his shot inches wide.

Tempers flared briefly after the interval when Campbell-Ryce's late tackle caught Maybury and earned the winger a booking, and shortly after Southend were level courtesy of Eastwood's flash of brilliance.

Maher played the ball over the top to Eastwood, who could have have hit a first-time shot from the angle.

Instead, the striker brought the ball back inside onto his right foot, swept past Richard Stearman and fired a low drive inside Henderson's near post for his 16th of the season.

Hume went close for Leicester twice more, latching onto Stearman's header only to slice the ball over the crossbar from six yards and hitting a snap-shot which Flahavan got down well to.

Foran, who had already been booked, saw red 14 minutes from time for a foul on Jason Jarrett which brought a second yellow card.

The 10 men came agonisingly close to scoring when Efe Sodje's header from Eastwood's cross was palmed onto the crossbar by Henderson.

And two minutes later Foxes sub Elvis Hammond beat the offside trap and crossed for Hume to bundle the ball home.

But the drama was not over, and Maybury left the field on a stretcher following Simon Francis' challenge.

And in the dying seconds Eastwood's shot was parried by Henderson and the ball rolled through to McCormack to secure a point.

Teams

Southend Flahavan, Francis, Sodje (Harrold 86), Clarke, Hunt,Campbell-Ryce, Gower, Maher, Foran, Bradbury (McCormack 73),Eastwood.

Subs Not Used: Collis, Prior, Hooper.

Sent Off: Foran (76).

Booked: Campbell-Ryce, Foran.

Goals: Eastwood 53, McCormack 90.

Leicester Henderson, Stearman, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Maybury,Hughes, Jarrett, Johnson, Porter (Yeates 80),Hume (Cadamarteri 86), Horsfield (Hammond 66).

Subs Not Used: Logan, Kenton.

Booked: Horsfield, Stearman.

Goals: Hume 9, 81.

Att: 10,528

Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).