Southend slipped five points from safety despite twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Brentford.
Bees pegged back by Laurent brace
Southend slipped five points adrift of safety despite twice coming from behind to claim a 2-2 draw at home to Brentford.
The Bees twice went in front through former Southend striker Charlie MacDonald's 21st-minute opener and a 62nd-minute strike by Carl Cort.
But both efforts were cancelled out by Francis Laurent, the second equaliser coming just a minute after Cort put the visitors back in front.
However, the Shrimpers are one point further away from survival with four games left after Leyton Orient claimed a surprise 2-1 win at home to league leaders Norwich.
MacDonald put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes when he met Cort's through ball to fire a low shot into the bottom left corner for his 17th goal of the season.
Fightback
The hosts had struggled in the final third in the first half but were a different side after the break and got the equaliser their industry deserved in the 56th minute when Laurent's shot from a Franck Moussa pass deflected in off Bees defender Pim Balkestein.
The Shrimpers maintained the pressure but Brentford scored against the run of play when Lewis Grabban teed up Cort to slam home a right-footed shot from just inside the box.
The lead was soon wiped out, though, as Moussa crossed into the danger zone for Laurent to slide in and score from close range.
Bees keeper Wojciech Szczesny was injured trying to challenge Laurent and was stretchered off to be replaced by Nikki Bull.
Southend upped the pressure but Brentford could have nicked the win at the end of seven minutes of added time, when Grabban fired straight at Steve Mildenhall when one-on-one with the home keeper.
