Neither Doncaster Rovers nor Southend United were able to find the breakthrough in the first half at the Keepmoat Stadium this evening.

The visitors went close inside the first minute when Cian Bolger headed just over from Kevan Hurst's corner.

Harry Forrester spurned a good chance inside the first five minutes when his diving header flashed just wide of the Southend goal.

Bolger had to be alert down the other end just before the half-hour mark when his vital touch thwarted Andy Williams as he tried to get on the end of James Coppinger's inviting cross.