| 16 | Southend United | 30 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 33 | 42 | 32 | -9 | ||||
| 17 | Hartlepool United | 30 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 37 | 47 | 32 | -10 | ||||
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 28 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 34 | 32 | -10 | ||||
| 19 | Exeter City | 31 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 31 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 34 | 46 | 31 | -12 | ||||
| 20 | Gillingham | 31 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 35 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 43 | 30 | -12 | ||||
| 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 30 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 30 | -14 | ||||
| 22 | Tranmere Rovers | 30 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 26 | 48 | 30 | -22 | ||||
Blues boss Steve Tilson did decide to go ahead with moving skipper Adam Barrett to left back with Scott Malone out injured, allowing the returning Pat Baldwin to join Jean-Yves M'Voto in the centre of defence.
Scott Vernon replaced Scott Spencer up front, the surprise was in mid-field where Jean-Francois Christophe retained his place over the back from suspension Alan McCormack.
Sadly for the Blues it didn't work, even though they scored in the first half for the first time since November.
It looked OK at the start, Les Parry's Tranmere team seemed hard-working but limited, while Damien Scannell started as if the ColU game on Monday had never stopped we tore down the right flank, a goal had to come this time!
Hallalujah! In the 15th minute Francis Laurent spun and weaved his way into the Tranmere penalty area to be scived down by Zoumana Bakayogo and up stepped Scott Vernon to pace the ball accurately into the right hand corner of the net.
With both keepers wishing they had more to do in the freezing conditions, Christophe will probably feel he should have done better moments before the end of the first period than head over after a Simon Francis free-kick found him just six yards out.
However, only three minutes into the second half, memories of Boxing Day and the lack of defensive concentration that cost the home side against Colchester were to return.
A corner from the left hand side taken by Paul McLaren's was volleyed in by Gareth Edds for Ian Goodison to step into an empty space and shoot into the top right corner from close range.
Any confidence that Southend had gained from the early penalty was now sucked out of them like an alien monster in Star Trek. It was Rovers now who were passing the ball around, finding team mates with ease.
It took a fine one-handed save from Blues keeper Steve Mildenhall to stop Ian Thomas-Moore from adding a second for Rovers five minutes later with a stinging volley.
Tilly made the changes, Watt looked to still be suffering from an early knock, bringing on Macca earlier than he may have expected, and certainly for the last 20 minutes Southend started to take some sort of control again.
Christophe carried on with his poor heading practice by missing the target when positioned well more than once, and even threw in a shot from 20 yards that went close.
Adam Barrett rose to another Francis free-kick to just head wide, Baldwin was found in a similar position to his equaliser against Swindon two weeks ago, but missed the target this time, while Macca found the side netting rather than the back of it when working his way through near the end.
It was all rather frantic at times and Tranmere more than deserved their point at the final whistle.
The good news is that the point actually raised the Blues a place into 16th.
But don't be fooled, overall this was a match lacking in quality from both sides, and the bad news is that with three very tough matches to come in six days, starting with MK Dons away next Saturday, it will be Southend who have to come up with some answers or the table will not make very pleasant reading a fortnight Sunday.
Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 7, Francis -6, M'Voto - 5, Baldwin - 6, Barrett - 6, Scannell - 6, Christophe - 5, Moussa - 5, Watt - 4 (McCormack 53 - 5), Laurent - 5 (Spencer 73 - 6), Vernon - 6.
Referee: Mr. S. Cooke - 6.