SOUTHEND United were held to a second successive 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers tonight.

The Shrimpers endured a goalless stalemate at home to Bury last weekend.

And it was a similar story at the Memorial Stadium this evening as Phil Brown’side failed to win another uneventful encounter.

After a quiet start to the game, Ryan Leonard sent a long range 25 yard shot wide of the left post.

But Leonard then almost netted at the other end of the pitch when John-Joe O’Toole’s well struck shot deflected off the midfielder just six yards from goal, only for Daniel Bentley to react sharply and parry the effort to safety.

At the start of the second half, Michael Timlin had a long range shot tipped wide of the right post by former Blues shot-stopper Steve Mildenhall.

However, after that the game was again short of goal-scoring chances.

That led to Blues boss Phil Brown making his first change of the game in the 69th minute with new loan signing Jamar Loza coming on to replace Freddy Eastwood in attack.

The on loan Norwich City youngster lined up alongside Lee Barnard and, with 74 minutes on the clock, the more experienced Barnard volleyed a right wing cross from Leonard straight at Mildenhall.

With play then switching back to the other end of the field, O’Toole sent a six yard header straight at Bentley before the Shrimpers came even closer to the scoring with Loza nodding a right wing cross from Barnard down in to the ground and over the crossbar from close range.

After the missed opportunity, Anthony Straker replaced Will Atkinson but Blues were unable to conjure up a late winner as their winless streak was extended to 13 matches.