Southend hold shock lead against United after first half

Southend 1 Manchester United 0

Freddy Eastwood threatened to bring Alex Ferguson’s 20th anniversary celebrations to an abrupt halt at Roots Hall.

Despite including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in a bid to ensure the holders reached the quarter-finals of this season’s Carling Cup the visitors were outplayed for much of the opening period and Southend gained just reward when Eastwood fired home a superb 26th-minute free-kick.