Soccer: Away-day goal drought goes on

Blues' failure to beat Tigers' keeper Steve Wilson during another goal-less away outing, means the Seasiders have now failed to find the back of the net on opposition soil for 424 minutes.

Crocked striker Neil Tolson, likley to miss the rest of the season with a groin injury, was the last Southend player to conjure up a goal on the road for the south Essex side, during a 2-1 defeat at near neighbours Leyton Orient on February 5.

Since then Blues have made four away trips without scoring, a miserable run which has left Alan Little's troops still searching for their first victory of the millennium outside of Roots Hall.

However, not for the first time this season, the Southend manager must have been left cursing his luck on Humberside last night as defensive duo, skipper Simon Coleman and Rob Newman, were both denied by the woodwork.

If one of those chances had crossed the line, Southend would have been confident of sealing their first triumph at Boothferry Park for 38-years, and their first away success since a 1-0 victory at Torquay United on December 28 last year.

On the other hand, another solid rearguard action from Blues helped the Seasiders grind out a rare clean sheet - only their seventh of a defensively leaky season - against Hull's pacey forward-line, who were kept at bay for the majority of the 90 minutes' play.

But this result failed to push Southend any further up the league standings and nearer the top ten finish Little has demanded, following an uninspiring season, which has seen the Shrimpers fail to achieve their promotion dreams.

Last night's draw keeps Southend firmly stuck in 16th position, seven points adrift of tenth placed Plymouth Argyle, and just above fellow strugglers Hull, who are one point behind Blues.

Southend boss Little fielded his familiar looking five-man defence of wing-backs Mark Beard and Nathan Jones, plus centre-halves Coleman, Newman and David Morley, at Boothferry Park, with Mel Capleton again assigned the goalkeeping duties.

However, the Seasiders' boss opted for a surprise shuffle of his playing staff in the midfield, resting Kevin Maher, who has been a revelation in recent weeks, and Scott Houghton, in favour of Gordon Connelly and Aberdeen loan-man Nigel Pepper.

Connelly and Pepper joined Mark Tinkler in the centre of the park, with another temporary signing, Bristol City striker Steve Jones joining Hull old-boy and Southend's 17-goal top scorer Martin Carruthers in Blues' attack.

Hull, with only one win at home this year and plagued by crippling financial troubles which have left the Tigers losing £15,000 a week, were desperate to lift the gloom around Boothferry Park and started off the game in gung-ho style.

The sleeping Humberside giants forced three corners in the opening five minutes, but Blues' defence stood up against the early barrage, soaking up their hosts' early menace in sponge-like fashion.

After surviving Hull's onslaught, Southend hit back with Steve Jones firing just off target and gangly stopper Morley forcing Wilson into a save.

Then Carruthers, who scored his first league goal in Hull's colours eight-years ago during a loan-spell from Aston Villa, almost beat Wilson to Tigers defender Justin Whittle's back pass as the home side began to look wobbly at the back.

Beard forced Southend's first corner of the game and Coleman, who found the net last Saturday in Blues' 3-1 Roots Hall win over rock bottom Chester City, met Connelly's flag-kick with a fierce header which hit the top of the bar and bounced to safety.

At this time Southend's bid to avenge Hull's 2-1 win on the Essex coast last November was starting to look promising, but Newman was forced into conceding a dangerous free-kick after 17 minutes.

The veteran defender brought down speedy youngster Gary Bradshaw and the 17-year-old former Newcastle United youngster was entrusted with the resulting set-play, which he smashed into Southend's well organised defensive wall.

After surviving this scare, Coleman sent another Connelly corner looping wide and Steve Jones drove a half-chance into the side-netting as Southend began to work up a head of steam.

Soon after, Capleton, put into trouble by Coleman's poor back pass, got out of a tight spot with a customary silky dribble as the Shrimpers' custodian showed the outfielder's skills that were often lacking in the middle of the park during this meeting.

However, it was a rare error by Coleman who was outstanding at the heart of Southend's rearguard and enjoyed another one of the many outstanding displays he has given Blues over the last few years.

The pace slowed as the game went past the half hour mark and poor passing made it a shapeless affair, although Pepper was like a tireless workhorse in the Seasiders' midfield, covering every blade of grass as he chased and harried across the park.

Hull, though, almost snatched a quality goal two minutes before the break when ex-Manchester United junior David Brown stroked a pass to Bradshaw, whose fierce cross shot from the right went perilously close to opening the scoring.

Like Hull earlier, Southend came out for the second-half with all guns blazing and the impressive Pepper drove a fierce 30-yard shot straight at a startled Wilson.

Blues then won three quick corners, all taken by Connelly, which culminated in the Hull goal leading a charmed life once more as the hosts were again rescued by the woodwork.

Coleman, again causing problems in the Hull penalty area, nodded the first corner back across goal for Newman to steal in and thunder a header against the foot of the post from close-range.

Fellow central defender Morley was well positioned to latch on to the rebound, but his well struck shot from 12-yards cannoned off one of Hull's panicking players and away from danger.

Hull survived the next two flag-kicks, despite still allowing Coleman licence to roam unmarked, before they broke away to threaten themselves once more.

Hull put together a classy move, again instigated by front-runner Brown, but Jason Harris was clearly offside at the end of the intricate play as his finish, which beat Capleton, was disallowed by the referee.

Harris soon made amends by skinning Morley, but Jamie Wood wasted a perfect cross by shooting over from just ten-yards out, when it had looked easier to score.

Carruthers, who hit the net six times in just 13 league outings for the Tigers in 1992 before returning to Villa Park, and Steve Jones were starved of service and becoming increasingly frustrated, but Pepper almost stole the show late on.

With 15 minutes left, Pepper ran on to a free-kick from Connelly and slid an 18-yard effort goalward, which Wilson just managed to gather, before having less trouble smothering a skidding 30-yard drive from Carruthers down to his left.

Morley escaped a yellow card after bringing down a rampaging Whittle, although referee Roger Furnandiz awarded Hull a free kick.

And the Doncaster official was lenient again soon after when Brown scythed down Nathan Jones as Blues brought the ball out of defence.

However, he finally lost his patience and put Newman's name in the book nine minutes from time as the defender gave away a free-kick following a foul.

As the game fizzled out into an inevitable draw, which helped Hull clinch a new unwanted club record of nine goal-less draws in a season, Southend looked the stronger of the two sides.

But as Blues pushed forward in search of a winning goal, Morley, Coleman and Newman still had to make good interceptions to snuff out a burst of Hull breakaways and cement a well deserved point.

(Right) Shrimpers sandwich - Mark Tinkler, left, and Martin Carruthers race a Hull opponent to the ball

(Left) Keeping up with the Jones - Blues' new loan striker Steve Jones worked hard during last night's goal-less stalemate

(Below right) Hold-up - Hull do their best to keep winger Nathan Jones at bay

(Below left) Watching brief - Blues midfielder Nigel Pepper keeps a close eye on this Hull break

Match facts

Shots/headers on target: Hull 2, Southend 5.

Corners: Hull 6, Southend 5.

Bookings: Southend - Newman (83mins - foul), Hull - none.

Southend United

(In 5-3-2 formation with ratings out of 10):

Capleton 6 - shaky and kicked poorly.

Beard 6 - his attacking again left a lot to be desired.

Nathan Jones 7 - usual left-flank flair from the Welshman.

COLEMAN 8 - all round solid performance from the skipper.

Newman 7 - another impressive rearguard action.

Morley 6 - struggled worryingly at times against Hull's pacey forwards.

Pepper 7 - grafted hard in the centre of the park.

Tinkler 7 - comfortable match for the midfielder.

Connelly 6 - in and out.

Carruthers 7 - usual energetic 90 minutes.

Steve Jones 7 - worked hard, but still lacking fitness.

Subs not used: Cross, Fitzpatrick, Maher, Houghton and Roget.

Hull City Wilson 7, Harper 6 (Edwards 6), Greaves 6, Whittle 7, Goodison 6, Brown 6, Brabin 7, Bolder 6, BRADSHAW 8, Woods 7, Harris 7. Subs not used: Schofield, Morgan, Whitney and Bracey.

Attendance: 4,150

Referee: R Furnandiz (Doncaster) 7 out of 10.

Next game:

Northampton Town v Southend United

(Saturday, 3pm)

Other Division Three results

Barnet 1-0 Plymouth

Brighton 5-2 Macclesfield

Cheltenham 2-1 Northampton

Chester 1-1 Hartlepool

Exeter 1-0 Halifax

L.Orient 0-1 Rotherham

Peterborough 0-2 Carlisle

Swansea 1-1 Shrewsbury

Torquay 1-0 Darlington

York 2-0 Lincoln City

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.