SOUTHEND UNITED 1 (Gower 58)
BARNSLEY 1 (Coulson 90)

A LATE, late, late goal by substitute Michael Coulson earned the Reds a deserved replay in torrential rain at Roots Hall.

Despite two pre-match pitch inspections, the clash at Roots Hall went ahead after an incessant downpour in Southend throughout the morning. After a 210 mile trip, the 263 who made the long, long trip to a damp corner of Essex from Barnsley were glad of it.

It was a game that neither team really wanted, with the focus firmly on Championship survival, but the glamour of the FA Cup and a potential Fourth Round tie against one of the big boys lay in reward for the victors.

Reds manager Simon Davey started his debut FA Cup campaign by making two changes to the side that lost at Wolves. Brian Howard returned from injury while Marc Richards also came back in at the expense of suspended defender Antony Kay and Grant McCann, who was cup tied. New signing David Lucas was on the bench.

Barnsley had a great chance to get their noses in front with just two minutes on the clock after Daniel Nardiello tumbled under Adam Barrett's challenge on the edge of the area. Nardiello took the free kick himself but smashed his effort into the wall.

Seconds later the Reds caught the Southend backline napping as Martin Devaney's cross fell invitingly at the back post for Paul Hayes but the former Scunthorpe man saw his volley clip the outside of the post.

Again the visitors pushed on and Devaney found space on four minutes after cutting in from the right flank to meet Nardiello's pass but he hammered his shot into the advertising boards from the edge of the area.

Southend again were a little too keen in the challenge on nine minutes as Howard fell as he tricked his way past Alan McCormack 25 yards from goal. Nardiello once more tried his luck with the free kick and sent his effort round the wall but yards wide of the post.

The home side finally clicked on 15 minutes as they broke quickly following a Barnsley corner with Jamal Campbell-Ryce teeing the ball up for McCormack, who smashed his shot wide of Nick Colgan's far post from 30 yards.

Mark Gower was next to try his luck a minute later after Campbell-Ryce's cross had dropped invitingly on the edge of the area but he effort deflected away from goal and out for a corner. From Kevin Maher's kick Colgan had to be at his best to palm away Peter Clarke's header.

Freddy Eastwood then tested his shooting boots on 18 minutes as the highly rated striker broke through the middle of the park and rifled the ball goalward but Colgan was quickly down to smother his effort at the second attempt.

At the other end Sam Togwell managed to get a shot away from distance on 19 minutes but his effort was straight at Darryl Flahavan. Southend broke well and Lee Bradbury managed to get a header on target from Gower's deep cross a minute later but the striker was hampered by Rob Atkinson's strong challenge and never really looked comfortable going for the aerial ball against the Reds youngster.

Barnsley had Southend on the back foot on 23 minutes as Richards' took the ball down well before sending a great pass out to Devaney on the right wing, who cut inside before firing agonisingly wide of the far post with Flahavan struggling.

Neil Austin was the first player booked on 25 minutes as he hauled back Campbell-Ryce when the winger looked to get away down the flank.

Richards broke well on 30 minutes as he raced onto Togwell's pass before being sent tumbling as he looked to pull the trigger on the edge of the area. The referee played on and allowed Devaney to set his sights and shoot but the winger's effort flew well wide.

Togwell was the architect again on 31 minutes as his pass sent Nardiello through on goal and the striker put Barrett on his backside before shooting past Flahavan but the ball drifted wide of the far post with the goal gaping.

Eastwood again found a yard of space 30 yards out on 34 minutes as the Reds stood off and allowed the striker to get his shot away but his effort flew well, well wide of the goal.

Barrett managed to get to the ball in the danger area on 37 minutes as he met Gower's cross but could not direct his head on target under pressure from Paul Reid. Steve Hammell then saw a free kick deflect over the bar two minutes later after Reid had fouled Eastwood.

Flahavan had to thank his luck stars again in stoppage time as Nardiello managed to get in and saw his goalbound shot hacked off the line. Southend somehow got the ball away under pressure from Howard and Hayes.

Howard thought he had done enough to win a penalty just two minutes after the restart as he hit the sodden turf under Clarke's challenge when the pair went for Richards' pass but the referee waved away his protests as the conditions at Roots Hall deteriorated.

At the other end Bradbury managed to get away from Atkinson's shackles on 48 minutes to get a volley away but he could only shoot high over the bar from 18 yards.

Barnsley pushed forward again on 51 minutes as Howard and Hayes managed to carve an opening for Austin in the area but the full back, who is yet to score in more than 150 games for the Reds, lashed his shot against Barrett and away from goal. Richards could not turn the rebound into the net.

Togwell was cautioned on 53 minutes after his late challenge sent McCormack sprawling as both sides struggled to get to grips with the atrocious conditions and water-logged pitch.

Barnsley were undone on 58 minutes as the Reds defensive wall made a complete mess of Eastwood's low free kick after Barrett went to ground under Togwell's challenge. The Barnsley wall jumped up and Eastwood threaded the ball underneath to give Gower a tap in from five yards.

It could have been even worse for the Reds on 61 minutes as Bradbury pounced 18 yards from goal but his effort flew inches over the top of Colgan's goal. Gower then tried his luck again on 63 minutes as he let fly from 25 yards in the pouring rain but Colgan managed to hold onto his effort.

McCormack was next to shoot from distance as he took the ball on through midfield but his shot was never going to trouble Colgan and went wide of the target.

Barnsley finally got a foothold back in the game on 67 minutes as Devaney's left wing corner caused problems for the Shrimpers defence but Atkinson could not direct his free header on target from 12 yards.

Nardiello was left in agony on 70 minutes as he felt the full force of McCormack's challenge, which earned the Southend midfielder a booking. The conditions really ended the game as any sort of contest although Hayes and Nardiello managed to get the ball down long enough to find Devaney on the right on 74 minutes but the winger's wild shot flew over.

Eastwood again caused problems for the Reds on 81 minutes as he tricked his way into the area and his cross held up on the sodden pitch to give Bradbury a chance but Atkinson was able to nip in and make an excellent block.

The Southend crowd then got Devaney booked as he looked to steal a yard from a free kick and the referee, who had his back to the Reds winger, somehow had eyes in the back of his head to see the infringement. It was Devaney's fifth caution of the season and will keep him out of the clash with Preston North End.

Eastwood managed to get free behind Reid on 82 minutes but the horrendous pitch beat the striker although he did find Gower, who brought the very best from Colgan with a low shot.

At the other end Howard refused to let the conditions get in his way a minute later as he raced onto Togwell's pass before firing inches over the top from the edge of the box.

Southend smashed the woodwork on 86 minutes as Campbell-Ryce got away down the right before rifling the ball across but his pass caught in the wind and hit the top of the bar.

Nardiello should have earned a replay in stoppage time as he took on a flick into the arm, albeit with the help of an arm, but, with the Southend defence appealing, somehow shot over the bar with only Flahavan to beat.

The leveller came on 94 minutes as Togwell broke into the area before seeing his shot cannon into the air off Flahavan. In the ensuing scramble, Coulson was alert enough to prod the ball over the line.

SOUTHEND UNITED: Flahavan, Hunt, Barrett, Gower, Maher, Eastwood, Bradbury, Clarke, Cambell-Ryce, Hammell, McCormack (Guttridge 85).
Subs: Francis, Wilson, Paynter, Welch.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Austin, Atkinson, Reid, Howard, Togwell, Devaney, Hayes (Coulson 78), Nardiello, Richards.
Subs: Lucas, Heckingbottom, Tonge, Williams.