Blues boss Paul Sturrock decided to bring back QPR loanee striker Antonio German who replaced his son Blair who was made a sub, other than that no change from the side that drew with Shrewsbury Saturday.
It was United's first ever league game with their hosts and early efforts from both sides didn't really bother the keepers, a Grant effort sailed harmlessly over the bar, while a Chris Holroyd shot was easily gathered by Blues No.1 Glenn Morris, as he did again with the same player a few minutes later.
On 9 minutes though a more serious effort by the home side by Peter Winn which saw the Boro win a corner, and after a rushed clearance by Josh Simpson, Michael Bostwick's strike from outside the box went wide.
A corner at last for the Essex boys, but Soare's effort was easily cleared.
However, it wasn't the start of a prolonged spell of pressure as on 26 minutes Stevenage took the lead that started with a long throw which wasn't delt with well enough by the Shrimpers defence.
A Bostwick assist gave Stacy Long the chance from close range, which he took with ease, placing the ball into the bottom right hand corner.
Southend tried to get back in the game before the break but all the efforts of young German, plenty of effort drew the unwanted and unlawful attention of the odd Boro defender and some welcome free-kick's in attacking position, no real chances except for a Bilel Moshni header soon after the half-hour mark that went wide.
At least three corners came the Shrimpers way in this time including a superb save by Day who tipped over a Josh Simpson header from eight yards before the referee blew for half time, leaving the Shrimpers still one down at half-time after having the majority of the possession.
Bostwick again was being a nuisance to the Blues patched up defence before peter Gilbert of all people responded with a shot that was blocked before it could cause any real damage.
German continued to be fouled, at least it took the pressure of Granty!
Once again forward Jack Midson was not seen much in the danger area and it resulted in the Oxford loanee being brought on for Blair Sturrock in a double substitution on 65 minutes.
Luke Prosser not surprisingly replacing the tirering Graham Coughlan, two games in four days at his age!
Stevenage stepped up the pace a touch, gaining the off free-kick in attacking positions, yet it was Sturrock and German for the Blues who both got actual shots in that were comfortably delt with Boro keeper Chris Day.
Last chance saloon time again for Luggy as joint top scorer Barry Corr is sent from the bench to replace ineffective wideboy Louie Soares with 14 minutes left.
After a long distance drive from, er, Long, went wide, the Shrimpers came close to an equaliser when Anthony Grant shot from outside the area just wide of the left hand post after a decent Craig Easton free-kick was cleared.
They came even closer though on 84 minutes, a mere three minutes before Grant's saving volley at the weekend, they like it late this Luggy side, when good work by Sean Clohessy found the sub Corr who slipped past one challange before shooting hard and low into the right hand corner of Day's goal from 12 yards, 1-1.
Stevenage tried to find a winner and in the second minute of stoppage time Jon Ashton was brought down by Blues left back Gilbert with a tactless two footed tackle and referee Hooper showed a straight red!
Luckily for the travelling faithful they only had to sit out another couple of minutes before the end of the game so the ten men Shrimpers held out for, overall, a deserved point, even if it does little for Luggy's defensive worries.
Johnny Herd anyone? Probably not!
Still, you can't argue with the spirit of this particular Southend side at the moment, remember when we couldn't draw a game, that's four in a row now, and Tilly's new look Lincoln lost 5-0 at home to Bury so watch what you wish for!
So with a week until the next game away to Cheltenham to patch up the teams injured soldiers, this season may have some hope in it after all.
Southend player markings: Morris - 7, Clohessy - 7, Gilbert - 5, Mohsni - 7, Coughlan - 5 (Prosser 65 - 6), Grant - 6, Easton - 6, Simpson - 6, Soares - 4 (Corr 76 - 8), Midson - 4 (Sturrock 65 - 5), German - 5.
Referee - Mr. S. Hooper - 6.Npower League Two, Tuesday, 23rd November 2010 @ 19:45 
Long 26 Corr 84 
Starting Line-ups 16 Day 5 Ashton 2 Wilson 14 Roberts 3 Laird 18 Bridges (Foster 46) 8 Long 24 Bostwick 12 May (Beardsley 46) 15 Holroyd 17 Winn (Charles 77) Substitutes 6 Foster (Bridges 46) 11 Odubade 9 Griffin 4 Charles (Winn 77) 22 O'Shea 1 Bayes 20 Beardsley (May 46) 48.6% Possession 51.4% 1 Goal Attempts 1 1 On Target 1 0 Off Target 0 0 Hit Woodwork 0 5 Corners 5 Starting Line-ups 1 Morris 5 Coughlan (Prosser 65) 2 Clohessy 3 Gilbert 6 Bilel 17 Soares (Corr 76) 8 Easton 4 Simpson 7 Grant 22 German 25 Midson (Sturrock 65) Substitutes 18 Herd 20 Crawford 16 Prosser (Coughlan 65) 21 Sturrock (Midson 65) 31 Ferdinand 24 Evans 10 Corr (Soares 76) Referee Simon Hooper Attendance 2,544 Stevenage Cards (none) Southend Utd. Cards Bilel 49 Unsporting behaviour Gilbert 90+2 Unsporting behaviour