Shaun Goater?s Southend are top of League One after their eighth straight win took them past Nottingham Forest by a single goal in front of more than 10,000 fans and Sky Sports? cameras.

The Bermudian veteran returned from a foot injury to play 90 minutes for the Shrimpers yesterday as they moved to the dizzy heights of first place by three clear points over Swansea in their first season since promotion with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the former European Champions at Roots Hall.

Last year?s topscorer Freddy Eastwood, who was linked with a move to Forest in the summer, scored the 81st minute winner and both he and Goater came close on numerous other occasions.

And boss Steve Tilson, who won manager of the month for September, has now vowed not to cut his hair until his side lose again after their incredible eight-match win streak.

?I?m not getting my hair cut until we lose a match,? said Tilson, the man who wooed Goater back from the brink of retirement this summer.

?At this rate, I?ll be sporting a mullet soon enough. I just hope this doesn?t stop, we are only 13 games gone and there is plenty of time for things to change.

?But I?m really pleased for the lads because they dug in and got what they deserved ? our second half performance was excellent.?

Meanwhile in Major League Soccer, a 2-2 draw for Khano Smith?s New England Revolution was enough to clinch his side?s place as the winners of the Eastern Conference with one match still to go, and earn the number one conference seeding for the play-offs.

Smith made a rare start for Steve Nicol?s men and was credited with an assist for Clint Dempsey?s 58th-minute equaliser as the Revs came back from 2-0 down.