The celebrations at the end of this game were Southend's for sure and deservedly so as they won promotion with more ease than the penultimate game tends to suggest. It's been a wobble from them of late but they have probably been the best side this season - the league table tells you that - and good luck to them next season in the Championship.

For the home fans it was a strange end to the first season in the new stadium. We could well be back in two weeks for the first of a two legged play off semi final or we could in seven days be completely deflated at missing that end of season party at the final hurdle.

Either way, we signed out from the 'regular' season today with an entertaining 2-2 draw with the champions elect with Rory Fallon's excellent double being cancelled out by an equally impressive double from the league's leading scorer - Freddie Eastwood. Probably another title that Southend took from Swansea this time in the shape of Lee Trundle.

It was wholesale changes for Swansea last week where as this time around Jackett was more lenient on his players with Trundle called into the starting line up alongside a surprising selection of Shaun MacDonald on the right.

Willy

Tatey Monk Kev Sam

Macdonald KOL Robbo Macca

LT10 Rory

The sun beat down on White Rock stadium as Swansea basked in Spring sunshine and with a near capacity crowd of 19,176 - just short of the stadium record set against Yeovil back in November - a time when Swansea looked invincible.

Southend showed in the early stages why they were top of the league with some crisp incisive football that always looked as if it could cause Swansea trouble whilst from our point of view LT10 and Robbo looked on one of their 'on-days' where things would happen and Kevin McLeod seemed to be up for the battle as well. The first couple of chances fell to Southend with close range headers well saved by Willy. In our return it was long range efforts from LT10 and Robbo - the latter of which troubled the keeper who tipped well over.

Our opener after 20 minutes was a piece of Rory magic. Winning the ball on the edge of the area, it was sheer strength that held off the defender and allowed him the space to power home from 15 yards for his first goal in front of his home crowd. Off came the shirt, out came the yellow card - still one of the dullest rules in football but the Swans were a goal to the good.

The lead lasted less than ten minutes. Freddy Eastwood beat Austin for pace and drilled home a low shot past Willy to send the 2000 away fans into party mode. There is no doubt at all that Freddy Eastwood is a class act and much of Southend's season next year will depend on their ability to hold onto the man they snapped up from non league less than two seasons ago.

At this point the game was end to end and a great advert for League One. The Swans were back ahead just five minutes later as Fallon rose to head Tate's pinpoint cross back across the keeper's line and into the net for a 2-1 Swans lead - a scoreline they maintained at the break.

Would we sit back? Would we hell. Swansea sensed that Southend were possibly there for the taking and went for it. LT10 saw two cracking shots saved almost at point blank range whilst Robbo, Macca, Macdonald and Fallon were causing no end of trouble with KOL becoming more evident in controlling the midfield. A goal was surely coming. It did, but at the wrong end. Eastwood was afforded space by Austin who watched as the marksmen hammered home his second of the game and the goal that would effectively seal promotion for Southend even it that wasn't known at the time.

Could the Swans force another goal. The way we were playing, yes very probably. Until Jackett decided on a change. Off came LT10 to be replaced by Knight - a decision that saw Lee head down the tunnel and one that I have to admit had me wondering why. Trundle had been a constant threat all afternoon and was certainly one of the people I would have said Southend were worried by on the day. Still, not to worry we had threats from elsewhere. But the change seemed to see us lose shape a little and both sides almost appeared to be coasting towards the final whistle. A succession of free kicks were wasted and the impressive Macca was stretchered off towards the end but it was not to be.

The celebrations in the away end said that Hartlepool had held Brentford and whilst Southend head into the last week just fighting for the title with Colchester - the Swans head in wondering whether their season will extend past the 6th May. Match or better what Forest do and it will. Or better what Barnsley do.

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