Southend United were held at home in their first game of 2010 at Roots Hall, with Alan McCormack's second half header quickly cancelled out in a 1-1 draw against Wycombe Wanderers.

Both sides had chances to win the match, with Steve Mildenhall called upon to make a vital stop in the closing stages to deny Wycombe stealing the three points.

In truth, the first half was a disappointing affair with little by way of chances for either side.

Mildenhall made an important save to deny Stuart Beavon and Franck Moussa flashed a couple of efforts wide, but the match was becoming a scrappy affair.

A cross-cum-shot from Scott Malone needed goalkeeper Scott Shearer to parry the ball to safety before Dean Keates nodded wide of the left-hand post for the visitors.

The best chance arrived at the feet of Beavon though, as he escaped inside the penalty box with just Mildenhall to beat, but the goalkeeper stood tall to block his point-blank effort.

The opening 45 minutes ended with Moussa twice lining up efforts from long range, with his initial shot comfortably saved by Shearer at his near post before the Belgian midfielder went closer when drilling a low strike that had Shearer stretching out to tip the ball around the post.

Southend had the perfect opportunity to take the lead after the break, with Damian Scannell's low cross inches away from the feet of McCormack in front of goal, but after Shearer tried to push the ball away, Laurent was faced with just the goalkeeper to beat, only to horribly blaze the ball over the top.

Yet the Blues were still able to open the scoring just moments later on the hour mark, with Osei Sankofa supplying a cross from the right for McCormack to meet inside the box and head home his second goal of the season into the roof of the net.

Unfortunately, the lead lasted no more than four minutes, with Matt Paterson shooting wide of the left-hand post when faced with just Shearer to beat before Wycombe switched the ball to the other end of the field, where Josh Payne arrowed a 25 yard strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Both sides attempted to press for a winner, but it was Wycombe who came the closest to finding the back of the net again, with Mildenhall pushing Lewis Hunt's long range effort around his right-hand post.

A good chance arrived for Matt Harrold when the former Southend striker was left alone from a corner, only to head wide of the post, but it was perhaps in the final minutes where Wycombe would see their best opening arrive.

With Southend struggling to head the ball out of their own half, Matt Phillips was presented with the ball from close range, but his own header was superbly kept out by Mildenhall as he pushed it away to conclude the stalemate.

Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Francis, Barrett, Malone, Scannell (Walker 80), Grant (Spencer 72), McCormack, Moussa, Laurent, Paterson (Freedman 72).

Wycombe: Shearer, Hunt, Woodman, Keates, Harrold, Mousinho, Westwood, Beavon, Payne (Phillips 82), Betsy, Hinshelwood.