Southend United halted Leeds United's winning start to the season, after holding their in-form opponents to a goalless draw at Roots Hall.
Leeds arrived in Essex with eight wins under their belt this season and made a solid start to this League One fixture, but the Blues came into their own after the break, with Lee Barnard denied the chance to continue his scoring touch when he saw a 68th minute penalty saved.
Much befitting a team in form, Leeds started the stronger side and almost took the lead when Robert Snodgrass' corner was completely missed by Johnny Herd and narrowly diverted over the top by Leigh Bromby at the near post.
Southend responded when Franck Moussa dragged a low shot wide of the target, before the visitors went on to threaten again when Jermaine Beckford blasted the ball over the top from 12 yards out.
The closest we came to the end of the first half though, the more the Blues provided danger in the final third.
Francis Laurent twisted and turned his way down the right flank to win a corner, with Adam Barrett racing forward to head the resultant set piece over the top.
Goalkeeper Shane Higgs was then at full stretch to palm away a forceful effort from Laurent, but as clear cut chances go, Anthony Grant was presented with a golden one at the end of the half.
Moussa delivered a cross from the left, which deflected off Bromby while Higgs was off his line, and it found Grant alone in front of an open goal, but he proceeded to agonisingly head the ball over the top.
Moussa was then involved in the first serious attack after the interval when his goalbound effort was blocked by Patrick Kisnorbo.
But Southend were soon handed the perfect chance to take the lead when Barnard was pushed over in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Barnard stepped up himself, but was unable to increase his seven goals for the season, as Higgs dived to his left and made an excellent save to tip the ball around the post.
At the other end, Barrett was called into action to make a superb tackle to deny Beckford racing through on goal, with the Blues defence doing an impressive job of limiting the visitors in front of goal.
With 10 minutes remaining, Dougie Freedman and Damian Scannell both entered the fray, but it was Leeds who came close to grabbing a winner by providing a late scare.
Beckford was little more than a few yards out when the ball came to his feet inside the box, but his shot was superbly blocked by Steve Mildenhall.
Mike Grella went close with a header from a corner, but Southend held their own when it mattered to record a third consecutive clean sheet on home soil and become the first team to get a result against Leeds this season.
Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, M'Voto, Barrett, Herd, Grant (Scannell 80), Christophe, McCormack, Moussa, Laurent (Freedman 80), Barnard.
Leeds: Higgs, Crowe (Michalik 48), Kisnorbo, Doyle, Beckford, Becchio (Grella 82), Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Snodgrass (Kilkenny 75), Bromby.
