Hull City were denied all three points by an injury time goal from Southend's Tes Bramble in the first game of the season at Boothferry Park.
The home side had seemed to be heading to victory when they took the lead in the eighth minute when Stuart Green latched onto Lawrie Dudfield's through-ball and slid it home.
But Southend battled back and Mark Rawle should have equalised before they eventually drew level in the second half, Neil Jenkins curling home a superb left-foot strike following Kevin Maher's corner midway through the second half.
Hull regained the advantage, however, when Green released Stuart Elliott who drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
The Tigers were reduced to ten men when Ian Ashbee was dismissed for a second bookable offence with five minutes remaining and they were made to pay when Bramble volleyed home his deflected last-minute equaliser