Cambridge United held to a draw by Southend United in Sky Bet League Two

Cambridge United were held to a 0-0 draw by Southend United in Sky Bet League Two at the Abbey Stadium.

There were 22 positions between the sides, but it did not feel like that as a resolute defensive display from the strugglers kept out the league leaders.

A herculean effort from Ian Darler and the ground staff managed to get the game on given the freezing conditions, but it was a first half of very limited chances.

There was a bright start for the U’s in only the third minute, with a move orchestrated by Adam May from deep in his own half.

He strode forward, swapped passes with Paul Mullin and then went wide to Kyle Knoyle, who crossed for Joe Ironside but the header was easily collected by Southend keeper Mark Oxley.

It was the visitors’ shot-stopper who had their only chance on target in the half, with a long goal kick catching the wind and threatening to dip in, but United keeper Callum Burton was alert to tip it over the bar.

The only other chance of note came in the 40th minute, when Mullin played in May to turn smartly in the channel but Oxley produced a good stop to thwart the effort.

In truth, Southend were defending their area very well and were happy to cede possession to United in certain parts of the pitch, but making sure to stay tight and compact around the penalty area.

It left United with answers to find how to create that little bit of space for themselves, in central positions in and around the penalty area or add that extra bit of quality to the final ball.

Southend made a bright start to the second half, but the threat they carried did not lead to opportunities, those came at the other end.

Mullin worked some space for himself at the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected wide and then Luke Hannant and Jack Iredale combined on the left, and Hannant ended up firing off target from just inside the area.

Southend were certainly not done as an attacking force as the game went on.

Kyle Taylor hit an effort wide, Emile Acquah fired into the side netting from just inside the area. Then, after a bout of head tennis from a corner, Tom Oieny headed over when he should have at least hit the target.

But there were no other chances for either side, and a draw was a fair result on the day as neither side did enough to win the game.

The result does see the U's extend their lead at the top of the table, even if it is not by the three points that they would have hoped for at the start of the day.

Cambridge United: Burton, Knoyle, Okedina, Taylor, Iredale, Hannant, May, Drysdale, Hoolahan, Ironside, Mullin.

Substitutes: Tracey (May, 66), O'Neil (Hoolahan, 89). Not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Davies, Alese, Knibbs, Worman.

Southend United: Oxley, Bwomono, Hobson, Oiency, Akinola, Clifford, Acquah, Nathaniel-George, Taylor, Ferguson, White.

Substitutes: Hackett (Taylor, 70), Goodship (Akinola, 85). Not used: Seaden, Cordeer, Halford, Demertiou, Hart.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Bookings: Cambridge United - May (unsporting behaviour, 41), Okedina (foul, 85), Mullin (foul, 86).