TEN MAN Southend United were held to a 0-0 draw by Walsall at Roots Hall tonight as their poor goalscoring form continued.

The Shrimpers, who had Sam Hart sent off midway through the second half, have now failed to score in six of their last seven games.

And the second from bottom Blues are now six points from safety with just nine games to go.

Goalscoring chances were few and far between during another drab encounter but Walsall threatened early on with Liam Kinsella sending a deflected, left foot shot wide of the right before the resulting right wing corner saw a header from James Clarke well saved by the legs of Mark Oxley at the near post.

In reply, Shrimpers skipper John White sliced a long range effort over the crossbar before midfielder Alan McCormack, who was booked for dissent early on, was given a final warning by referee David Rock after the fiery midfielder made a challenge on Cameron Norman.

Blues boss Mark Molesley opted against taking the Irishman off and the hosts almost took the lead on the half hour mark when Hart’s right wing corner was headed against the crossbar by Timothee Dieng.

Moments later, Dieng’s bouncing header was easily held by Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts before the visitors hit back with Gordon slicing an effort wide of the right post when well placed in the penalty area.

The Saddlers make three changes at half-time in a bid to get on top but it was Blues who threatened first at the start of the second period with a stretching Dieng heading Hart’s left wing cross wide of the right post.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild then fired wide of the right post after a neat pass from Brandon Goodship, who was handed his first start since December, before a low, left wing cross-shot from Nathan Ferguson was parried behind by Roberts.

In an effort to improve, the Shrimpers made their first change of the net in the 57th minute with Simeon Akinola replacing Goodship in attack.

And, shortly after the alteration, Nathaniel-George sliced a left footed shot wide of the left post before McCormack fired over from long range.

But Blues suffered a huge blow in the 67th minute when Hart was shown a straight red card for a high and late challenge on Walsall substitute Derick Osei Yaw.

Six minutes later, the Shrimpers made their second change with the fit-again James Olayinka replacing McCormack for his first appearance since January.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Akinola soon saw a looping header easily held by Roberts before Dieng wasted a clearer chance to score as he headed Hackett-Fairchild’s left wing free-kick over the crossbar when well placed.

John White then saw a 20 yard volley pushed wide of the left post by Roberts as Blues were again left frustrated in front of goal.

Southend United: Oxley, Demetriou, White, Hobson, Hart, Nathaniel-George, McCormack (Olayinka 73), Ferguson, Hackett-Fairchild, Dieng, Goodship (Akinola 57)