Alex Revell named three changes from Wednesday's point at Walsall, with Ben Coker, Terence Vancooten and Tyrone Marsh all coming in for Luther James-Wildin, Scott Cuthbert and Jack Smith as supporters were welcomed back to The Lamex Stadium for the first time in 10 months.

 

Emile Acquah had the first chance of the game for the visitors, a volleyed effort which was blocked by a sliding Luke Prosser. 

 

Chances came few and far between in the opening stages, but Southend came close once more after 12 minutes as a set-piece routine resulted in Brandon Goodship striking from close range, an effort that was tipped over expertly by Jamie Cumming. The resulting corner saw Richard Taylor head the ball just wide of Cumming's goal.

 

Stevenage were prepared to soak up pressure and hit Southend on the counter attack, and Stevenage nearly carved open a golden chance as Charlie Carter intercepted Goodship on the halfway line, playing a ball to Tom Pett who attempted to thread the ball through to Aramide Oteh, but was intercepted by a lunging Shaun Hobson.

 

Stevenage applied more pressure as the half went on, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. 

 

The second half commenced, and Boro started on the front foot with Romain Vincelot pushing the team up the pitch in a search for an opener. 

 

Oteh spurned a glorious chance from a corner on 51 minutes, misreading the bounce of the ball and Tryone Marsh struck the bar seconds later with an effort from outside the box as Boro got closer and closer to finding a goal. 

 

Boro were causing Southend problems, with Pett driving into space and finding Marsh on the edge of the box, who eventually shot into the leg of an outstretched Tim Dieng. 

 

Boro were pressing for a goal, but nearly found themselves behind on 87 minutes after a long kick forward by Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley was headed down by substitute Terrell Egbri into an onrushing Goodship, volleying just wide of Cumming's post. 

 

Egbri was involved once more seconds later, finding room in the box before shooting wide. Alan McCormack also nearly broke the deadlock in the final stages, as his ferocious strike whistled past Cumming. 

 

Boro had a chance of their own in the final stages too, after a deep cross from Remeao Hutton found an unmarked Oteh who scuffed his acrobatic effort. 

 

This was the final chance of the game as both sides had to settle for a point each this afternoon.