The recalled Luke Prosser, back with Blues following a loan spell at Rushden and Diamonds, and the young striker Lyle Della-Verde who was placed on a youth scolarship in December 2010, and replaces the injured Harry Crawford.
Finally, along with the usual suspects, the reserve hat-trick hero, Kyle Asante.
Though Southend saw plenty of the ball in the first half on a pudding of a pitch, heavy overnight rain had hit the south-west as in other parts of the country but at least it was playable, they or their hosts looked unlikely to break the deadlock.
An early effort by Torquay defender Guy Branston floated harmlessly over Blues keeper Rhys Evans crossbar, soon after a terrific free-kick by Ryan Hall just fails to connect with the boot of the incoming Coughlan of all people!
Shrimpers left back Peter Gilbert picked up a yellow card for an adjudged poor challenge on Craig Stanley.
Torquay got in the game before the half-hour mark with top scorer and the S24 player-to-watch Chris Zebroski getting an effort on target for the home side but Evans is perfectly positioned.
Plenty of midfield play with the odd set piece given away, a cross by Sean Clohessy easily picked off by former Canvey Island shot stopper Danny Potter.
At last some real action from the Shrimpers old firm. Ryan Hall takes the free-kick, Barry Corr gets the header in, saved by Potter, who does it again on 36 minutes when another header by Corr dips past the right hand post after a terrific left wing cross by Hall, his court appearance in March not putting him off his game here at all.
Branston tries his luck again, this time with his head, but also clears the bar, again!
Then a corner by Hall is played back to the hard working winger in a well worked move and he strikes from 12 yards, but once more Potter is equal.
While Southend are passing it around as well as they can on such a difficult surface they can't break down a Torquay defence that has failed to let in a goal in their last three games all of which the Devon side has gone on to win.
Still, they keep trying and, yes, Hall cross is followed by a Corr header just missing the target on 35 minutes.
Back up the other end as the break approaches Hall decides it's his turn to try and break the old onion bag from a Blair Sturrock cross, but Potter is equal to it.
Quickly followed by a Corr shot, Potter again saves easily enough.
The whistle goes, but Southend must have gone into the dressing rooms the happier side.
Gulls boss Paul Buckle realises something must be done and makes a double change at the break and brings on both Kevin Nicholson and Ryan Gilligan to try and liven things up for the Devon side.
And he must have felt justified when four minutes into the second half a Craig Stanley corner is headed meters over by that boy Branston again, he's getting closer.
Guess who responded for the Blues? Long kick by Evans, header on by Corr, Hall shoots straight at Potter. Route One footy at it's best, bar scoring!
Sadly, soon after a worrying sight for the travelling faithful when Anthony Grant received an accidental kick to his head that saw the trainers on for a while before deciding Snoop Dog had to be taken from the field of play with Lee Sawyer replacing him close to the hour mark.
And we saw another strong cameo from the former Chelsea youth but he couldn't stop Torquay from taking the lead on 73 minutes.
We warned you, the dangerous Zebroski attacked down the right wing delivering a low cross which Danny Stephens dummied wrong footing the Shrimpers defence and Billy Kee hit home from close range.
Almost immediatly shouts for a spot-kick for Southend as Clohessy was bundled to the floor by the Gulls Nicholson, not given by referee David Coote.
Not to worry, on 81 minutes Captain Craig Easton found himself in the box, passed to Hall whose low cross was guided into the net by, who else, Barry Corr, lurking with intent at the back post.
Now on 14 goals Big Barry, great to see back to his best, was not finished yet, and had an 18 yarder pushed away to safety by Potter before Branston, bored with missing at our end, sliced a dangerous Clohessy cross away from his own goal!
As the clock counted down the Gulls pressed forward with Stanley heading past the left post to close for comfort.
However, young striker Kyle Asante, brought on for Sturrock with two minutes left to kill out time, nearly grabbed the winner as he showed great speed to burst into the opposition penalty area but his effort went over the crossbar.
Whistles were now heard from the away end as the ref decided to paly out six minutes of stoppage time with the Guls pressing forward.
Stevens made sure Evans earned his wages, then a header from Chris Robertson saw some panic defending by the Shrimpers before the game finally came to an end with a point deservedly held on to.
With two home games in a week the table next Saturday around five could make interesting reading for Southend supporters everywhere.
Southend player markings: Evans - 7, Clohessy - 7, Barker - 7, Coughlan - Gilbert - 6, Ferdinand - 8, Easton - 7, Hall - 7, Grant - 6 (Sawyer 58 - 7), Sturrock - 5 (Asante 88), Corr - 7.
Referee - Mr. L. Coote - 7. (Ms. S. Massey; no sexism here please but.....7.)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
