Southend United 0 Rochdale 0

Kevin Maher was jeered throughout by some supporters who are annoyed with the midfielder rumoured impending move to Leyton Orient.

The only change to the side that started in the draw at Carlisle four days earlier saw striker Tony Richards replace groin injury victim Tesfaye Bramble. The three 'contract rebels', whom manager Rob Newman promised would not play should they not renew their commitment to the Shrimpers all retained their place in the side, however the trio - goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, deender Leon Cort and midfielder Kevin Maher - were all jeered throughout the afternoon by some supporters, with Maher, United's longest serving player, being pin-pointed for abuse having been rumoured to have accepted a contract with Leyton Orient.

The hostile reception these players recieved took supporters minds somewhat off the poor match they were witnessing on the pitch were Southend, obviously lacking fire-power without top scorer Bramble, seemed content to play out their second goalless draw within a week.

Tony Richards, making his first appearance in the starting line-up since mid-September headed a Stuart Thurgood cross badly wide in the seventh minute and Brain Barry-Murphy controlled the ball well before shooting just wide from 20 yards two minutes later.

Tony Richards was substituted with a groin strain at half time having made his first start since September.

In the 15th minute, and as Rochdale began to make inrodes on the Blues goal, Phil Whelan's attempted clearance struck Steve Jones who knocked the ball across the penalty to Kevin Townson who was brilliantly denied as Stephen Broad dived in to divert the young frontman's shot for a corner.

Darryl Flahavan did himself no favours in terms of the abuse he was recieving when he twice made comical errors in the 24th minute, first somehow failing to hold Lee McEvilly's weak shot before somehow missing his kick and alowing the ball to roll behind for a corner. Eleven minutes later the custodian rode his luck once again as his poor clearance wasn't capitalised upon by Townson.

As the first half drew a climax, Flahavan was in the spotlight once more, parrying Jones' long range free kick.

Southend manager Rob Newman made his only change of the match at the interval, replacing the inneffective Richards with Mark Beard. It was alleged that Richards went off with a groin injury similar to Bramble's. Nevertheless Start Thurgood once again found himself switching to the unfamiliar striking role that he also adopted for much of the second half at Carlisle.

In front of a crowd of only 3,429 the second period, unfortunately, was no better than the first with United often appearing reluctant to attack their visitors whose goalkeeper, Steve Banks, appeared to be struggling in the high wind.

Goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, yet to sign a new contract, kept a second successice clean sheet.

Broad was again involved eleven minutes later as he found Thurgood in space on the left, the battling makeshift striker then cut inside before shooting straight at Banks.

Rochdale substitute Clive Platt then burst clear of thr Blues defence in the 71st minute, taking the ball around the floundering Flahavan before Whelan, who'd made up a lot of ground, saved a certain goal with a superb sliding tackle on the lanky striker.

As Southend seemed to perk up in the final minutes Beard cut the ball back to Selley who's right wing cross was flicked wide by the head of Thurgood before captain Whelan headed a Barry-Murphy free kick wide in the final minute.

With only one minute of injury time added, this dour encounter came to rather an abrupt end with supporters flocking out of Roots Hall probably wishing they hadn't bothered turning-up in the first place.

With only eight matches of the season, Southend will have to improve if they are to maintain a top half finish come the end of April.

Mark Wallis

www.thelittlegazette.com