Wayward Southend frustrate Brown

Southend manager Phil Brown was again left ruing his side's profligacy after they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Dagenham.

Southend manager Phil Brown was again left ruing his side's lack of fire power after they were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Dagenham at Roots Hall. The Shrimpers, who had defender Cian Bolger sent off 20 minutes from time, were piling on the pressure at the start of the second half. But they were unable to find a way past in-form Dagenham goalkeeper Mark Cousins and were held to a second successive goalless draw at home, much to the frustration of Brown. "We had so many chances that it's disappointing not to have won, even if we did end the game with 10 men," said Brown. "Their goalkeeper has made some great saves and was definitely man of the match but there were opportunities we should have done better with. "We needed to be braver or just have that little bit more nous you need to get the ball across the line so it was very frustrating. "Everyone is talking about the final third of the pitch and I agree that all we are missing at the moment is a striker." After a quiet first half, in which Southend skipper John White had an own goal ruled out for offside, the sixth placed Shrimpers improved after the break. Barry Corr was twice denied by Cousins and so too was Jack Payne before Shaq Coulthirst and Will Atkinson were also kept out. At the other end, Joss Labadie had an effort ruled out for offside before Bolger was dismissed for violent conduct after appearing to headbutt Labadie in the 70th minute. Brown was disappointed by the Dagenham player's reaction to the incident. "I've seen the incident and their lad has gone down so easily," said Brown. "If you call that doing your job then this game has changed. "But I won't be coming down hard on Cian and the injustice of the red card seemed to actually fire everyone up and make up play a bit better." However Dagenham, who have dropped back down in to the relegation zone, were also disappointed by the officials. And their first-team coach Warren Hackett insisted White's own goal should have stood. "We also feel a bit hard done by because we've watched the DVD and the own goal which was disallowed for offside should have been given," said Hackett. "Ashley Hemmings is onside and maybe if that's given like it should have been then it might have been a different story. We're very, very disappointed with that. "But overall I thought we played well. Southend upped the tempo at the start of the second half and Mark Cousins has had to make a few saves but that's what he's there to do. "I couldn't really see the red card from where I was but our players are saying it was and that's all I can go on. "