Cheltenham ended a run of six successive League One defeats as they ground out a 0-0 draw with Southend.

Losing run ended in drab stalemate

Cheltenham ended a run of six successive League One defeats as they ground out a 0-0 draw with Southend in a drab contest at Whaddon Road. The Robins came closest to taking the points when Ashley Vincent spectacularly hooked the ball into the net after 55 minutes only to be denied by an offside flag. Southend, without a goalless draw in 84 league games, had the better of the first half with Adam Barrett heading wide from a 32nd minute free-kick, while Cheltenham were restricted to tame efforts from distance. The hosts came out stronger at the start of the second half and goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall had to save a David Bird free-kick which threaded through a crowd of players. Lloyd Owusu then came close to converting an Elvis Hammond cross and Vincent had a long-range effort tipped over by Mildenhall. With 10 minutes to go, Southend winger Robert Milsom hit the bar, then at the other end Owusu clipped the woodwork with a header but both sides had to settle for a point.