BILEL Mohsni bagged his first goal in the English game for Southend United this afternoon, but it was only enough to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Accrington Stanley.

The French centre-back became the first Blues defender to hit the back of the net this season when he powerfully headed home a free-kick from Peter Gilbert.

His effort cancelled out a fine first half goal from Accrington's Jimmy Ryan. But Southend were unable to conjure up a winner – despite the visitors playing the final 12 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Peter Murphy for a late lunge on Anthony Grant.

In contrast to the more eventful conclusion to the game, there was little to excite the supporters early on.

However, with 20 minutes on the clock Grant momentarily livened up proceedings with a long range effort which flew over the South Stand crossbar.

Stanley hit back though and opened the scoring six minutes later with an impressive free-kick from Ryan.

The former Shrewsbury Town midfielder curled a 25 yard shot in to the top right hand corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season after Luke Prosser had been adjudged to have fouled Ray Putterill.

The rest of the first half was short of action but, at the start of the second period, Putterill fired over from the edge of the penalty area.

The Accrington midfielder then struck a tame chip straight at Blues' goalkeeper Glenn Morris before Grant fired a 25 yard free kick well wide of the target at the other end of the pitch.

Moments later and, with 55 minutes on the clock, the on loan Antonio German headed a right wing cross from Josh Simpson wide of the left post.

In reply, Andrew Proctor then saw a skimming long range shot tipped around the right post by Morris and only a last ditch sliding tackle from Gilbert stopped Terry Gornell registering another effort on target.

But in the 65th minute Southend drew back level with their first effort of the afternoon on target.

Gilbert was the creator as he delivered a deep, left wing cross to the back post where Bilel Mohsni crashed home a header in to the top left hand corner of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

It was the defender's first goal since signing for Blues during the summer and his equalising effort was immediately followed by an attacking first substitution for manager Paul Sturrock as top goalscorer Barry Corr entered the action in place of Jack Midson.

Following his arrival, Corr's strike partner Antonio German cut in off the right flank and unleashed a well struck shot which was tipped over the crossbar by Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin.

That boosted the visitors, who have not won away from home since March, but they were then reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when right-back Murphy was sent off for a poor late challenge on Grant.

It was the fourth time this season Stanley had been shown a red card but Southend could not conjure up a late winner.

Sturrock's side momentarily thought they had snatched it late on when substitute Harry Crawford stabbed home a free-kick from Zaaboub, but the effort was ruled out for offside, meaning Blues had to settle for a share of the spoils.