Stevenage made it eight games unbeaten against Southend on Saturday afternoon, after a goalless draw at Roots Hall…

Although the contest was far from a classic, the result made it Boro’s 16th clean-sheet of the season - a joint-league best - and sixth in a row as Stevenage further cement their place in the middle pack of the Sky Bet League Two table.

Alex Revell named two changes from the side that drew at Leyton Orient in midweek, recalling Jack Aitchison and Chris Lines to the starting XI in place of Arthur Read and Luke Norris.

It took just 8 minutes for the home side to have the first chance of the game, as Simeon Akinola couldn’t direct a superb cross by Hackett-Fairchild on target, despite being picked out just a few yards from goal at the back-post.

Four minutes later, Cumming once again proved his value by denying Ferguson with a stupendous save from his top-corner bound free-kick. It was a slow start from Stevenage with Southend enjoying the early territory and chances during the early goings.

The opponents pressure continued throughout the first half an hour, with Stevenage’s first half chance coming as a Southend defender slipped whilst on the ball, allowing List to bare down on goal before failing to pick out Newton in the box.

Boro picked up before the half was over, and List had his side’s first real chance soon after, as he was found by Lines over the top, but when faced with Southend captain White, he elected to shoot from the edge of the box instead of going around him, resulting in an effort that skewed wide of goal.

Osborne came the width of the post away from scoring the opener on 39 minutes, as he fired narrowly wide from the right-hand side of the area. During the following corner, skipper Scott Cuthbert picked up an injury off the ball which led to his early departure from the game, being replaced by former Blue, Luke Prosser.

The final action of the half saw Prosser booked for a late challenge on Akinola as the teams headed into the break on level terms.

Injury stoppages dominated the early proceedings of the second half, the most serious of which affecting Danny Newton who was replaced by Luke Norris after a collision by the dugout in the 59th minute.

List continued to be a menace to the Southend defence, and got in down the right again soon after, before finding Osborne, whose lay-off to Aitchison was intercepted in the nick of time just as he was looking to shoot.

On 66 minutes, List was in again after being found by Aitchison, but after cutting in on his less-favoured left-foot, he again dragged his shot wide.

There was very little in terms of chance creation throughout the second half, but it was Stevenage who were being the most proactive – a clever free-kick by Lines on 80 minutes allowed Norris to have a shot on goal from a narrow angle, which Montgomery saved well with his legs.

As the game approached added time, Boro kept on pushing and had Southend back deep in their own box, but there was almost a late sting as with the final kick of the game, Holmes had the Blues' best chance of the half, firing over at the back-post as a second goalless draw of the week was confirmed.