SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown was left feeling frustrated by the Shrimpers’ 0-0 draw at Walsall on Saturday.

The Blues boss felt his side should have secured all three points at the Bescot Stadium.

And he was also adamant Southend should have been awarded two penalties for fouls on striker Nile Ranger.

“We’ve dropped two points here in my opinion because we were the classier side and had more quality too,” said Brown.

“We had the better chances and to be able to say that at a place like Walsall is quite some feat.

“We needed to be more clinical but we should also have had two penalties.”

The first shouts for a spot-kick came in the first half when Ranger was challenged by Saddlers skipper Adam Chambers after a stunning burst into the box before the former Newcastle United forward appeared to be pushed in the back by Matt Preston after the break.

And Brown could not understand how at least one of the incidents did not result in referee Carl Boyeson pointing to the spot.

“Nile carried the ball from the half way line to the six yard box and went past two or three of their players before he was dragged down by a defending midfield player,” said Brown.

“If the referee looks at it he’ll see exactly what I mean because it’s a stonewall penalty.

“However, referees just don’t seem to be giving them at the moment, they are going with the defenders and I don’t understand why.

“The worst penalty shout in the history of the game was at Stoke City last Saturday and how they can’t give it is beyond me.

“The linesman should have given the second one although I admit it was probably soft.

“But I probably know the referee too well and I can’t say too much because he used to come out on to our training pitch when I was with Hull.

“Maybe it’s not always a good thing to know the ref like that.”

The draw extended Blues’ unbeaten run to eight League One matches but also saw them slip down to 10th in the standings.

However, Brown remains pleased by the progress the Shrimpers have been making.

“I shouldn’t really be complaining about 16 points from eight games,” said the 57-year-old.

“It shows how far we’ve come this season but we gave the division a 12 game start to begin with.

“We’re seeing what I want in the last eight and we have to keep it going while also becoming more ruthless.”