SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Mark Oxley was happy to bounce back to his best in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers shot-stopper made a stunning double save midway through the first half to deny both John Marquis and Alex Kiwomya.

And Oxley was thrilled by keep Rovers at bay just a week after making a rare mistake in a 3-0 defeat to Walsall.

“For myself it was disappointing last week and we all needed to react,” said the 27-year-old goalkeeper.

“The double save was up there with the best I’ve made at Southend too. It came so quickly but you just have to try and make yourself big.

“I’m happy with the clean sheet and that’s the third one we’ve got since the new manager came in, which is a good record but that’s down to the whole team.”

Oxley’s fine saves secured the Shrimpers a valuable share of the spoils. And the former Hibernian shot-stopper felt there was a positive reaction from Blues despite not winning the game.

“It was important we bounced back after last week and I thought we did,” said Oxley.

“Individually and as a team we just weren’t at it against Walsall for whatever reason.

“But the mentality was right again, everyone dug in and gave it their all and we could have won it at the death but the ball bounced up on the pitch just as Woody (Anthony Wordsworth) was about to shoot.”

And Oxley admitted the pitch had also caused him problems between the sticks.

“It’s hard to take goal kicks back in the goal area because it’s hard to plant your foot,” said Oxley.

“I think teams look at the pitch and don’t play a great deal on it, but we just have to get on with it.

"There’s nothing we can do and someone has just said in there we only have four home games left this season.”

The Shrimpers now face two away games in the space of five days. And Oxley is keen to push on after a solid display.

“We have to try and build on this at Rochdale now,” said the goalkeeper.

“Rochdale beat Rotherham so it’s another tough game, but a couple of the boys have just said they’re looking forward to playing on a half decent pitch again.”

And Oxley will also head into the game having been praised by Blues boss Chris Powell.

“Ox is a very, very good goalkeeper at this level,” said Powell.

“Lee Harrison does brilliantly with all the keepers and that double save Ox made is exactly the type of work they do.”