THE conditions may have been quite unpredictable at Blackpool on Saturday but the game itself went the way many would have expected.

Two teams separated by just one point and one place in the League One standings played out a 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road.

And for the Shrimpers it was the third stalemate in succession.

The contest – which was played in snow, sleet, wind and rain – could quite easily have gone either way.

But Blues ultimately had to settle for another share of the spoils in a clash which would have again left boss Chris Powell with mixed emotions.

The positives included a return to action for defender John White who belied his lack of recent match action with a steady display at the heart of the back four.

The centre-back had been out injured since the start of February when he suffered ankle ligament damage at Peterborough United.

However, after Anton Ferdinand was taken unwell the night before the game, White went straight back into the team despite having trained just twice.

But, using his experience and determination, White barely put a foot wrong and his solid display ensured the Shrimpers did not return home empty handed.

At the other end of the field, Powell would only have been pleased to see Marc-Antoine Fortune get back among the goals.

At 36 years of age, Fortune would certainly have been among those the Blues boss would have been considering resting for a third game in the space of just eight days.

But the experienced Frenchman stayed in the side and rewarded Powell’s loyalty with a clinical close range finish in the opening exchanges.

The goal was just the second scored by a striker in Powell’s nine games in charge and also saw the Shrimpers get back on the score-sheet having previously endured three stalemates in succession.

Fortune’s goal was cancelled out by Blackpool defender Clark Robertson in the final action of a first half which was far more eventful than the second.

Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley did well to deny the hosts with a fine double save before Southend’s top scorer Jason Demetriou hit the post late on.

However, other than that, the second half seemed to drift by and was perhaps reflective of the fact neither team really have too much to play for.

Both managers would refute that accusation but, thanks to the improvements since Powell’s appointment, the Shrimpers now sit eight points above the relegation zone and seem to have all but guaranteed their survival.

Looking upwards, Blues are 10 points below the play-offs with nine games to go and those final few matches are likely to be used with one eye on securing a more successful season next time around.

That was shown on Saturday with Theo Robinson being given more of an opportunity to impress.

The striker had been given just seven minutes of first team action in Powell’s first eight games in charge and he also came close to leaving on transfer deadline day.

But Robinson still has two years left on his Shrimpers contract and Powell handed him 45 minutes to prove his worth at the weekend.

Sam Mantom also came on for his Shrimpers debut midway through the second half and it certainly makes sense for Powell to take a good look at those currently at his disposal before beginning his planning for next season.

The Blues boss has made his team hard to beat since returning to Roots Hall as manager and has now suffered just one defeat in nine games.

Prior to his arrival, Southend had suffered eight defeats in nine outings so small steps forward have already been made.

But, by this time next season, Blues will hope to be far higher up the table and looking to pick up more than just a point in even contests like Saturday.