Scott Vernon's first goal for Southend United was not enough to seal the win in a 1-1 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers.
With both teams searching for points in League One, it became a scrappy affair at times, with Ian Goodison cancelling out Vernon's first half penalty immediately after the restart.
Franck Moussa dragged a low shot wide of the left-hand post before Tranmere responded with Ian Thomas-Moore's angled strike comfortably saved by Steve Mildenhall during a tentative start at Roots Hall.
But the perfect chance to take the lead arrived Southend's way in the 15th minute, after Francis Laurent twisted and turned his way into the box before being stopped in his tracks by a tackle from Zoumana Bakayogo.
With the referee pointing to the spot, Vernon picked up the ball and arrowed the penalty past Luke Daniel's right-hand post for his first goal for the club.
Chances were few and far between for either side during the rest of the first half and it wasn't until the end when Jean-Francois Christophe headed Simon Francis' free kick over from close range that we had a near sight.
But having looked comfortable in keeping Tranmere quiet, it took the visitors just three minutes to draw level through a corner.
Gareth Edds was able to flick on Paul McLaren's corner for an unmarked Goodison to blast the ball into the net.
Mildenhall was pressed into action to make a vital stop to deny Tranmere taking the lead moments later, as he leapt off his line to crawl away Thomas-Moore's volley at his near post.
Further chances arrived for Christophe, but on two occasions he headed set pieces wide of the target when well-positioned inside the box.
Both teams were struggling to create going into the closing stages of the match, but it was still Southend who were able to line up attempts at goal.
Christophe drilled a 20 yard volley wide of the right-hand post before Alan McCormack rifled a strike into the side netting ahead of the final whistle.
The point was still enough to lift the Blues up a place in the table to 16th ahead of next Saturday's game at MK Dons.
Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, M'Voto, Baldwin, Barrett, Scannell, Christophe, Moussa, Watt (McCormack 53), Laurent (Spencer 73), Vernon.
Tranmere: Daniels, Logan, Edds, Goodison, McLaren, Broomes, Thomas-Moore, Welsh, Bakayogo, Curran, Sordell (Gornell 79).
