Southend find their form to launch revival

Last season's beaten Second Division play-off finalists, Brentford, took a second-minute lead at Roots Hall before Southend hit back in style to register a 3-1 victory last night. Kevin Rapley opened the scoring, but the former Liverpool, West Ham and Coventry midfielder Mike Marsh equalised for Southend a minute later. Jeroen Boere and Adrian Clarke sealed the home win.

The Tottenham striker Neale Fenn was sent off for hitting an Icelandic opponent who laughed at his penalty miss as the Republic of Ireland Under- 21 lost 1-0 to Iceland in the European Championship in Reykjavik last night. The Irish lost to a sloppy goal, direct from a free-kick, by Stefan Thordarson in the 27th minute.