Graham Alexander's first game in charge of Fleetwood Town ended in a goalless draw with Southend United.

The visitors had two efforts, from Anthony Straker and Gavin Tomlin, ruled out for offside in the first half.

Fleetwood improved in the second period and went closest to scoring when Steven Gillespie shot over from close range.

The Cod Army, who sacked Micky Mellon following their FA Cup exit to Aldershot, have dropped out of the League Two play-off places.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Fleetwood manager Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I'm pleased with the point and a clean sheet against a good team in our first game.

"There were definitely chances, especially in the second half when we had more width. I thought we were really narrow in the first half and played into Southend's hands.

"I'm a pretty positive guy and I wasn't expecting miracles in our first game.

"I've only had one hour of training input with the players, but there's plenty of ability in that dressing room."

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"Six weeks ago we'd been in there slapping backs and really excited about the result.

"But we've matured, we're improving and we're disappointed we didn't come away with the three points.

"It's always a difficult place to come and when you've got a new manager, there's an edge to them to impress. They had a couple of decent chances, but we had maybe more.

"One of the (disallowed) goals, our boys are arguing about and we thought we should have had a penalty in among it all as well."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Fleetwood Town

  • 01 Davies
  • 02 Beeley
  • 03 Howell
  • 12 Brown
  • 13 Goodall
  • 25 Atkinson
  • 11 Nicholson
  • 27 Marrow
  • 37 Ferguson (Milligan - 29' )
  • 19 Gillespie
  • 26 Ball (Titchiner - 69' )

Substitutes

  • 16 Maxwell
  • 08 Milligan
  • 10 Fowler
  • 18 McGuire
  • 20 Johnson
  • 17 Titchiner
  • 32 Barkhuizen

Southend United

  • 01 Smith
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Straker (Corr - 70' )
  • 06 Cresswell
  • 16 Prosser
  • 23 Barker
  • 27 Mkandawire
  • 14 Hurst
  • 26 Laird
  • 20 Assombalonga (Eastwood - 82' )
  • 21 Tomlin (Donnelly - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 17 Bentley
  • 05 Coughlan
  • 12 Donnelly
  • 30 Woodyard
  • 07 Eastwood
  • 10 Corr
  • 24 Benyon
Ref: Deadman
Att: 2,399

Match Stats

Shots

13 11

On target

7 6

Corners

3 7

Fouls

12 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:37 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:13

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line.

90:00 +2:57

Freddy Eastwood has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

90:00 +2:44

The ball is crossed by Freddy Eastwood, clearance made by Alex Marrow.

90:00 +1:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rob Atkinson on Freddy Eastwood. Chris Barker restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:46

Alex Marrow takes a shot. Blocked by Tamika Mkandawire.

90:00 +1:26

Marc Laird concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Marrow. Direct free kick taken by Barry Nicholson.

89:35

Barry Nicholson crosses the ball.

87:02

Shaun Beeley delivers the ball, Alex Titchiner takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.

86:17

Tamika Mkandawire challenges Barry Nicholson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Howell takes the free kick.

84:49

Dean Howell sends in a cross, Effort on goal by Steven Gillespie from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

84:49

Dean Howell delivers the ball, Steven Gillespie takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

84:23

Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Ryan Cresswell gets a block in.

83:47

Chris Barker crosses the ball, save made by Scott Davies.

81:43

Sean Clohessy fouled by Alex Titchiner, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Smith restarts play with the free kick.

81:43 Substitution

Substitution Freddy Eastwood on for Britt Assombalonga.

78:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Donnelly on Alan Goodall. Scott Davies takes the free kick.

77:58 Substitution

Substitution Scott Donnelly on for Gavin Tomlin.

77:30

Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line, Close range shot by Ryan Cresswell clears the bar.

77:10

Marc Laird takes a shot. Save by Scott Davies.

76:28

The ball is sent over by Chris Barker, Dean Howell manages to make a clearance.

75:51

Steven Gillespie produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.

75:28

Tamika Mkandawire delivers the ball.

75:16

Sean Clohessy sends in a cross, clearance made by Alan Goodall.

74:06

Corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the right by-line, Header from close in by Barry Corr misses to the right of the goal.

73:56

The ball is delivered by Kevan Hurst, clearance by Alan Goodall.

72:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Goodall on Britt Assombalonga. Sean Clohessy restarts play with the free kick.

70:41

Steven Gillespie produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

70:04

The ball is delivered by Kevan Hurst, clearance made by Rob Atkinson.

69:16 Substitution

Substitution Barry Corr comes on in place of Anthony Straker.

68:59 Substitution

Substitution David Ball leaves the field to be replaced by Alex Titchiner.

67:54

The ball is delivered by Ryan Cresswell.

67:39

Shaun Beeley takes a shot. Ryan Cresswell gets a block in.

67:18

Barry Nicholson takes a short corner.

66:49

Jamie Milligan decides to take the corner short.

66:25

Junior Brown takes a shot. Blocked by Tamika Mkandawire.

66:12

Shaun Beeley produces a cross, blocked by Ryan Cresswell.

65:28

The ball is swung over by Kevan Hurst, Rob Atkinson makes a clearance.

63:07

Headed cross/shot by Barry Nicholson, Paul Smith makes a save. Corner taken by Jamie Milligan.

60:54

The ball is swung over by Junior Brown.

58:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc Laird on Steven Gillespie. Jamie Milligan takes the free kick.

57:16

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst from the left by-line, Jamie Milligan manages to make a clearance.

55:58

Luke Prosser challenges Steven Gillespie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Milligan takes the direct free kick.

55:46

Tamika Mkandawire challenges Steven Gillespie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Milligan.

54:02

Junior Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevan Hurst. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Cresswell.

53:21

Effort on goal by Anthony Straker from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

52:38

Jamie Milligan crosses the ball.

52:32

The ball is swung over by Barry Nicholson.

50:30

Dean Howell sends in a cross, Luke Prosser makes a clearance.

48:20

Foul by Alex Marrow on Gavin Tomlin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Paul Smith.

46:54

Sean Clohessy challenges Junior Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Milligan restarts play with the free kick.

45:50

Luke Prosser concedes a free kick for a foul on Rob Atkinson. Scott Davies restarts play with the free kick.

45:25

Unfair challenge on Tamika Mkandawire by David Ball results in a free kick. Kevan Hurst takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +3:22 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:43

The ball is crossed by Junior Brown, Close range effort by Steven Gillespie clears the crossbar.

45:00 +1:10

Dean Howell sends in a cross, Steven Gillespie takes a shot. Save made by Paul Smith.

44:39

Effort from just outside the area by Kevan Hurst goes over the bar.

44:21

A cross is delivered by Anthony Straker, clearance by Rob Atkinson.

44:04

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Blocked by Rob Atkinson.

43:30

Rob Atkinson fouled by Britt Assombalonga, the ref awards a free kick. Alex Marrow takes the free kick.

42:36

The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Scott Davies.

42:15

Kevan Hurst produces a cross, save by Scott Davies.

41:14

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Kevan Hurst takes the inswinging corner, Scott Davies makes a save. Save by Scott Davies.

40:14

Kevan Hurst crosses the ball.

39:53

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Kevan Hurst played to the near post, Dean Howell manages to make a clearance.

39:09

Gavin Tomlin fouled by Alan Goodall, the ref awards a free kick. A cross is delivered by Kevan Hurst, Ryan Cresswell takes a shot. Blocked by Alex Marrow.

38:03

Steven Gillespie challenges Tamika Mkandawire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevan Hurst takes the free kick.

33:05

Centre by Gavin Tomlin, Jamie Milligan manages to make a clearance.

32:20

Kevan Hurst takes a short corner.

31:35

The ball is sent over by Jamie Milligan, Close range headed effort by Junior Brown clears the crossbar.

30:58

Unfair challenge on Alan Goodall by Marc Laird results in a free kick. Scott Davies takes the direct free kick.

28:57 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Milligan on for Barry Ferguson.

27:26

The ball is delivered by Anthony Straker, save made by Scott Davies.

23:57

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy, Alan Goodall manages to make a clearance.

21:56

The ball is swung over by Kevan Hurst, Rob Atkinson makes a clearance.

21:39

The ball is delivered by Gavin Tomlin, Alan Goodall manages to make a clearance.

21:08

Dean Howell crosses the ball, clearance by Tamika Mkandawire.

19:42

Tamika Mkandawire concedes a free kick for a foul on David Ball. Direct free kick taken by Barry Nicholson.

19:03

Kevan Hurst sends in a cross, clearance by Shaun Beeley.

17:30

Anthony Straker takes a shot. Blocked by Alan Goodall.

16:54

Kevan Hurst sends in a cross, save by Scott Davies.

14:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gavin Tomlin by Rob Atkinson. Free kick taken by Luke Prosser.

14:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Barker on Junior Brown. Barry Ferguson restarts play with the free kick.

13:44

The ball is sent over by Alex Marrow, save by Paul Smith.

12:52

Foul by Britt Assombalonga on Alan Goodall, free kick awarded. Alan Goodall restarts play with the free kick.

11:43

Anthony Straker takes a shot. Scott Davies makes a save.

10:56

David Ball delivers the ball.

8:49

David Ball gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Cresswell. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.

5:49

Barry Nicholson produces a cross, Luke Prosser gets a block in.

4:52

Unfair challenge on Luke Prosser by Steven Gillespie results in a free kick. Ryan Cresswell takes the free kick.

4:28

Britt Assombalonga is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Scott Davies.

3:56

Anthony Straker produces a cross.

2:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Nicholson on Kevan Hurst. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Cresswell. The ball is delivered by Chris Barker, Rob Atkinson makes a clearance.

1:43

Marc Laird concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Marrow. Barry Ferguson restarts play with the free kick.

1:26

Britt Assombalonga is caught offside. Alex Marrow takes the free kick.

1:04

Barry Nicholson takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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