A gritty backs-to-the-wall performance from brave Southend United ensured the ten-man Shrimpers picked up a valuable league point at Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The Seasiders shut up shop, following defender Martyn Booty's controversial sending off in the 27th minute, and frustrated the promotion-seeking Stags to hang on for a point which could yet prove priceless in their arduous quest to retain Third Division status.

With fellow basement strugglers Hartlepool, Hull City, Torquay and Brighton putting more daylight between themselves and the Conference drop-zone with desperately-needed victories, it was vital that Southend picked up some reward from Field Mill.

The way in which they did it, following Booty's harsh dismissal, may not have been the prettiest of sights for the paying punter to endure, but Southend are six points off the bottom of the table and need to get results any which way they can.

Gone was the overplayed brand of football from former Southend boss Alvin Martin's regime, this was real no-nonsense back-to-basics stuff as new Blues chief Alan Little got his men to scrap and chase for every ball as if their lives depended on it - which they do.

The Seasiders never registered a single shot on goal and were content to hump the ball out of the ground and launch long balls into touch by Mansfield's corner-flags as they played for time.

However, if Blues play their remaining five games in a similar style and avoid the big drop into non-league football no Southend fan will be complaining.

Little was forced to make one change to his side for the visit to Mansfield with full-back Booty being recalled to the five-man defence in place of suspended stopper Leo Roget, who was beginning a two-match ban.

Booty was Little's only defensive cover, because of injuries and suspension to the Shrimpers' other central defensive candidates Rob Newman, Andy Harris and West Ham loanee Chris Coyne, and Blues made a shaky start.

Skipper Simon Coleman, who was making a first league return to the club where he started his career, was penalised for holding Mansfield forward Lee Peacock on the edge of Blues' box after just two minutes.

The Stags hitman brushed himself down to take the free-kick, central to the Southend goal, and hit a blistering drive from 25-yards which Shrimpers keeper Mel Capleton did well to push to safety.

Coleman nearly made amends eight minutes later when he met midfielder Mark Patterson's right-wing corner at the far-post, but his header floated wide.

Capleton needed to be on his toes again after 16 minutes when Mansfield defender Craig Allardyce was given the space to motor forward and try a long-range effort which the Southend custodian tipped away.

Mansfield continued to look dangerous and David Kerr should have done much better when David Morley's miscued clearance gave him a clear sight of goal, but he dragged his 24th-minute shot wide from 18-yards.

However, three minutes later the game was turned on its head as Booty became the eighth Southend player to receive a red card this season when home forward Tony Lormor made a meal of his challenge as he tried to break through on goal.

With Booty gone, Little reverted back to a flat-back four and replaced ineffective striker Trevor Fitzpatrick with midfielder Simon Livett to suffocate Mansfield's midfield and stifle their attacking options.

To the Blues boss' credit it did the trick as Mansfield had no answer to Southend's stubborn resistance and whole hearted battling display which continually scuppered the home team's attempts to break their visitors down.

Southend even managed to launch attacks themselves and thought they had taken the lead after 33 minutes when Morley got forward and sidefooted home Patterson's free-kick, but the effort was ruled out by the tightest of offside decisions.

However, German midfielder Lars Unger had the best two Southend chances to score just before the break.

After 38 minutes he blazed Scott Houghton's left-wing cross wildly over the bar at the far-post from an unmarked position.

Then five minutes before the break Unger broke into Mansfield's box following a powerful run, but instead of shooting from close range opted to pass to an amazed Neil Campbell and the chance was lost.

However, there was still time for Capleton to pull off another two low saves from Peacock and Johnny Walker in first-half injury time.

Lee Hodges fired a long-range drive wide of the right-post two minutes after half-time as Blues tried to hit Mansfield on the counter attack without breaking their rigid defensive structure which was keeping the Stags at bay.

However, Mansfield forced their way through a couple of times and Capleton had to block a goalbound diving header from Peacock after 65 minutes. He was left embarrassed four minutes later when home substitute Iyseden Christie knocked the ball out of his hands, but Peacock somehow hit the rebound wide of an open net from 18 yards.

The Shrimpers could have stolen the points 13 minutes from time though when substitute midfielder Steve McGavin played a neat one-two with Mark Beard.

However, the right-back's smart cross evaded Patterson's outstretched foot by inches in front of the Mansfield goal.

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