Southend United manager Phil Brown admitted that a 0-0 draw with Burton Albion in Sky Bet League Two was 'a good point for both sides'.

Brown's boys and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Brewers cancelled each other out in a tight affair at Roots Hall on Friday night, but the Blues boss was pleased with a number of things during the encounter.

“It's a good point for both teams and is we showed good discipline throughout,” Brown reflected.

"They have some good players. they knocked at the door of the play-offs over the last couple of seasons and we had to show good resolve at times during the game.

"Burton are a good side who are well organised and they will be there or there abouts come the end of the season, I'm sure. It was a tough game.”

But Brown was critical on the game for the diving of some players during the game.

“I'd rather see a game with tackling in it. I thought the referee was going to make a rod for his own back following three incidents to do with diving early on.

“There's some good, strong and solid characters that are going to ground too easily.”

A positive, however, was the return of Ben Coker to the Blues lineup, and Brown was delighted by what he saw from the left back following his long lay-off following an elbow injury.

“I've made reference to Ben in the changing room. I was delighted with him and he shows that there's something right at this football club, in terms of the fitness coaching. Ben's certainly staked a claim to keep his place in the side for the trip to Cambridge United on Boxing Day.”