A dramatic injury-time goal from Richie Foran gave Southend's survival hopes a huge boost as they moved out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone with a win over Burnley.

With the game deep into injury time, Southend's hopes of moving out the drop zone looked bleak, until Foran popped up with a fine finish to inject new life into the Shrimpers' season.

Burnley were still without a win in 16 games going into the match, but they started off looking hell-bent on ending that dismal run.

After only a minute, Andy Gray broke into the box and cut the ball back for Ade Akinbiyi, who somehow managed to flash the ball wide when he should have scored.

Two minutes later Joey Gudjonsson's corner found the head of Steven Caldwell, but the Scottish defender failed to trouble Darryl Flahavan.

Burnley's momentum was disrupted in the sixth minute when centre-back John McGreal limped off to be replaced by Steve Foster.

The home side duly seized their chance to get a hold on the game and Lee Bradbury was found well on the edge of the box, but he dragged a shot wide.

Alan McCormack, Mark Gower and Freddy Eastwood all tried their luck from long range, but none of them managed to trouble Danny Coyne in the Burnley goal.

As the half wore on the game became a war of attrition with neither side giving the other any room to create a meaningful attempt on goal.

Six minutes before the break, Burnley midfielder Wade Elliott fired straight at Flahavan from 25 yards as the half petered to a close.

Southend started the second half in positive fashion and Peter Clarke headed over from inside the box as the Shrimpers went in search of a vital win.

The pressure continued and with 57 minutes gone, Eastwood latched onto a ball over the top and fizzed a powerful shot narrowly wide.

Steve Tilson brought on Lloyd Sam and Foran in attempt to grab the lead and in the 73rd minute Eastwood came close to giving them that lead, but his shot on the turn was well saved by Coyne.

Three minutes later, Kevin Maher drilled a long-range effort wide, after Southend had worked the ball into space well.

Southend continued to pour forward in desperate hope of making a breakthrough and Eastwood saw a 20-yard effort superbly saved by Coyne.

The home side looked to have missed their chance of a win, but two minutes into injury time substitute Foran picked the ball up 12 yards out and hammered home his first goal since joining the club in January.

Cue pandemonium at Roots Hall as the Blues moved a point outside the relegation zone, while Burnley's dismal winless run was extended to 17 games.

Teams:

Southend Flahavan, Francis, Sodje, Clarke, Hunt,Campbell-Ryce (Sam 70), McCormack, Maher, Gower (Harrold 80),Bradbury (Foran 70), Eastwood.

Subs Not Used: Collis, Hammell.

Booked: McCormack.

Goals: Foran 90.

Burnley Coyne, Duff, McGreal (Foster 7), Caldwell, McCann,Elliott, James O'Connor, Gudjonsson (Lafferty 60), Harley,Gray, Akinbiyi, Foster (Spicer 74).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Djemba-Djemba.

Booked: Gudjonsson, Harley, James O'Connor.

Att: 8,855

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).