The team news was that on loan left back from Wolves George Friend was not in the team as somehow the paperwork had not cleared in time, Johnny Herd started.
With a couple of big blokes up front with veteran Scott Dobie moved to the wing, Simon Francis played centre-half and Anthony Grant moved to right back.
It did mean a bench of Joyce, O'Keefe and a couple of kids.
You could put this game into three neat sections; before Carlisle hit the bar, after Carlisle hit the bar, the windy second half where nobody really created anything.
As the Cumbrians dominated the first bit, we won the second and the third was a clear draw the Yellow shirted Essex side can feel a touch aggrieved they ended up losing but lose they did for the fifth time in the league this season.
The first 20 minutes was one of those periods when your thinking, if we can get away this we'll be OK, Grant was having a particularly torrid time on the right, getting booked for falling on the ball and stopping it going further with his hand, when Carlisle were looking dangerous once again.
However, it was not to be and Dobie turned Francis inside out on the right wing to cross for Vincent Pericard to volley past big Steve Mildenhall's reach.
Then you think, as the home side continued to keep Southend on the rack, if only we can keep it to 1-0!
And we got that piece of luck just after the half hour mark when a powerful header from Ian Harte bounced off the crossbar, a second there and the match would have been as good as over, but as happens in many games when a team gets away with it, Blues seemed at last to make a contest out of it.
A word on skipper Adam Barrett during this opening period, throughout this game, and during this difficult time for the club.
He continues to give his all, placing his body on the line over and over again, climbing above forwards taller and sometimes stronger than himself. An oustanding player and individual and a true inspiration for the rest of the team as well as the supporters.
Blues picked up yet another injury, this time Dougie Freedman limping off in the 39th minute, doubtful for Gillingham on Friday, allowing Stuart O'Keefe to come on and stiffen up the midfield, so it didn't cost the team too much.
The Moose, working as hard as ever, forced Carlisle keeper Pidgeley into a good save and off for a throw in, as good as a corner with Herd back in the side.
Into the penalty area the throw went, Pidgley made a mess of it, Francis Laurent seemed to take an age to line up the shot, but shoot he did and it was 1-1, the team celebrating in front of their own fans to the side of the goal.
Macca then had a chance right from the kick-off but hit his shot wide, poor bloke can't buy a goal at the moment hitting the ball high and over in the second period when given a clear sight of goal from 20 yards.
The wind built up after half time in the Cumbrian's favour yet they could do little with it as the quality of football suffered.
Some good runs from Laurent, looking more dangerous now, but Lee Barnard was looking frustrated at the service he was getting as well as being well marshalled by the Carlisle central defence.
It led to another booking for League One's top scorer and he's now a yellow away from a one match suspension, just what we don't want in present circumstances! Calm down Lee, it was again for having a word with the referee, it can't be your week every time.
Then another turning point moment, but in Carlisle's favour this time.
A good nod on from Laurent's cross by Barney on the hour saw Franck Moussa in a goal scoring position, up we stood, and over the bar the shot went. A difficult chance.
On the 81st minute forward went Carlisle and Joe Anyinsah, on as a substitute early into the second half, was given far too much room by young Johnny, he'd obviously been watching those Brentford penalties, and he shot into the corner of the net giving Steve Mildenhall.
Tough on Johnny, who overall had a good game, and Big Steve, who coped with the difficult conditions, pulling off some great stops while his decision making was first rate.
Some late Shrimper pressure saw a Francis shot deflected over the bar and a couple of Herd long throws led to some minor panic but the points were to remain north.
Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 7, Grant - 6, Francis - 6, Barrett - 8, Herd - 6, Laurent - 7, Christophe - 6, McCormack - 6, Moussa - 6, Freedman - 6, (O'Keefe 39 - 6), Barnard - 6.
Referee - Geoff Eltringham - 7.