Southend agonizingly missed out on all three points against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, as they hit the woodwork twice.
Blues boss Mark Moseley made four changes to the side that was beaten 1-0 by Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night, with Simeon Akinola, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, Kyle Taylor and Nathan Ferguson coming in for Ricky Holmes, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Greg Halford and Jason Demetriou.
After just three minutes the home side had a chance to take the lead following some good link-up play down the right-hand side between Dylan Bahamboula and Dylan Fage down the wing, which saw the latter cross the ball in, which Bobby Grant met around 10 yards out, but, thankfully for Blues he headered the ball over the crossbar.
Just eight minutes later Blues had a great chance to take the lead, as an in-swinging cross from the right-wing by Hackett-Fairchild saw Akinola get in front of his marker, but, the former Barnet man seemed to dive too early for his header, which hit his back and safely looped into the hand of Ian Lawlor in the Oldham goal.
36 minutes in Southend came close twice, as Tom Clifford delivered in an out-swinging free-kick which Emile Acquah met from close range which forced an outstanding save by Lawlor before the ball was recycled and delivered back into the penalty area which Hackett-Fairchild controlled and smashed a powerful effort off the crossbar.
At the start of the second half, Southend hit the woodwork for a second time in the match as a cross in from Hackett-Fairchild was thumped onto the crossbar by Acquah from close range with Lawlor beaten in the Latics goal.
The second-half was very much like the first, as neither team particularly took the game by the scruff of the neck, with very few shots on goal between the two, as they cancelled each other out.
In the 88th minute of the game, Oldham nearly snatched a winner, as a long diagonal cross was played to Carl Piergianni at the back post whose squared header was met by Grant who could only head the ball into the grateful hands of James Montgomery in Blues’ goal.
This is a game that Blues will see as a missed opportunity, as the chances were there for them to get all three points. Molesey’s men will be looking to try and earn themselves a vital win when they host Tranmere Rovers at Roots Hall in midweek.
Oldham Athletic Line-up: Ian Lawlor, Dylan Fage, Raphael Diarra, Carl Piergianni, Nicky Adams (C), Dylan Bahamboula (Brice Ntambwe 85’), Marcel Hilssner, Alfie McCalmont, Serhat Tasdemir (Conor McAleny 61’), Davis Keillor Dunn, Bobby Grant.
Subs Not Used: Laurence Bilboe, Sido Jombati, Callum Whelan, Andrea Badan, Harry Vaughan.
Southend United Line-up: James Montgomery, Shaun Hobson (Elvis Bwomono 72’), John White, Tyler Cordner, Tom Clifford, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, Kyle Taylor (Greg Halford 72’), Nathan Ferguson, Tim Dieng, Simeon Akinola (Jason Demetriou 78’), Emile Acquah (Ashley Nathaniel-George 56’)
Subs Not Used: Harry Seaden, Brandon Goodship, Ricky Holmes.
Referee: Ollie Yates
Assistants: Kevin Mulraine, Declan Ford.
Fourth Official: James Bell
Scorers:
Oldham Athletic: None
Southend United: None
Yellow Cards:
Oldham Athletic: None
Southend United: Jason Demetriou