Southend United boss Rob Newman praised his side for a professional performance during difficult circumstances, following last night's 0-0 draw at Carlisle.

The Seasiders have now gone nearly three months without an away victory, but the Blues chief was happy to return home from his side's longest trip of the season with a point in the bag.

"It was a pleasing performance as Carlisle is a very difficult place to visit," said Newman, whose team remain 14th in Division Three.

"Not many teams get anything from their visits to Brunton Park and I was happy with a point.

"Most importantly, I was encouraged by the way we applied ourselves. I told the lads before the game that we needed to show a major improvement after our last away match, which ended in a 5-1 battering at Hartlepool.

"And I got the right response. The weather was awful at Carlisle and the pitch was in a terrible state, but all the players rolled up their sleeves and stuck to the task."

Newman said he hoped Tes Bramble would be fit to face Rochdale at Roots Hall on Saturday, after the striker limped off with a groin strain after 49 minutes.

"We took Tes off as a precaution so the problem didn't get any worse," he explained.

Published Wednesday, March 6, 2002