A much-improved Exeter City were held to a goalless draw at Roots Hall in a relegation battle with Southend this afternoon.

Adam Stansfield thought he'd opened the scoring for the Grecians just minutes into the second half but his close range finish was controversially ruled out for offside.

Paul Jones had previously kept City in the match with a superb double save to deny Scott Vernon. The Grecians bombed forward in an frantic finale but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Paul Tisdale chose to keep the faith with the side that drew 1-1 with Oldham on Saturday. Joe Burnell replaced Craig McAllister, who joined Rotherham on loan during the week, on the bench.

Tisdale's side had received an unexpected but welcome boost prior to kick off when they were applauded off their coach by numerous away fans. The positive atmosphere would continue for the following 90 minutes with the near-400 strong fans in extremely good voice.

One of the prominent themes during Thursday's fan's forum was the desire from supporters and their manager for Ryan Harley to shoot from distance and he did just that after just two minutes but Steve Mildenhall saved it at the second attempt. At the other end Franck Moussa's header ended up on top of Jones' net.

Jones was in action again minutes later when he showed safe hands to hold Anthony Grant's effort before Damian Scannell fired wide.

The away fans were in extremely good voice but at this point a lengthy rendition of 'Paul Tisdale's Red & White Army' was the backdrop to a dangerous chance for Southend.

Matthew Paterson cut inside and squared it for Vernon who could only roll his shot at Jones when very well placed.

City's star performer James Dunne was moving up a gear in the Exeter engine room and he was involved in three half chances for the Grecians.

First his long-ball was headed wide by Marcus Haber at the far post before he hit two near identical shots down the throat of Mildenhall.

City were coming more into the game as the half wore on, Harley's forward run ending with a shot from distance but he couldn't trouble Southend's number one.

Both teams were fighting for their lives and it showed, there was plenty of shutting down, hassling and total commitment from both sides but the game hadn't really sprung into life.

But it did exactly that as soon as the second half kicked off and within the first minute Jones had to tip Francis Laurent's curling effort over the crossbar.

And the 23-year-old then showed the reflexes that helped him win player of the season last year as he kept out Vernon's initial shot before springing back up to save his second effort.

Then, at the other end, the game's real talking point unfolded. First Dunne let rip with a blockbuster effort that was somehow tipped onto the crossbar by Mildenhall before falling into the six-yard box.

Adam Stansfield jostled with a defender before forcing the ball over the line from two yards out but the celebrations were cut short by a somewhat debatable offside flag.

The fullbacks in the 5-3-2 system were overlapping and causing a threat. On the left-hand side George Friend and Scott Golbourne both had solid games and the latter's dangerous driven cross had to be slid out of play as City pushed for their first goal in open play since February 6th.

Liam Sercombe then curled a 20-yard effort just wide before Tisdale called for Richard Logan to replace Haber.

But it was Stansfield who had the next effort as his shot was deflected for a corner by the impressive Adam Barrett with Southend's keeper flatfooted and ten minutes later he was replaced by Stuart Fleetwood.

And the substitutes combined almost instantly with a great bit of interplay but Fleetwood just couldn't get the ball past Mildenhall.

The entire away end were united in shouts of 'HANDBALL' when Fleetwood was denied a chance to run through on goal by a Southend defender.

Whenever Southend moved forward City were quick to shut them down, defended their box especially well and were throwing men in front of the ball. On today's performance you can safely say that if City end up in League Two come August it wont be without a fight.

And in recent months the Grecians have struggled to create even half-chances, especially on their travels, but they were creating opportunities here on a regular basis as the clock ticked away.

First Golbourne's inviting cross was headed behind then Matt Taylor almost connected with the subsequent corner at the back post.

And the captain did make a proper connection to the next set piece, heading a Harley corner across the box, but Pat Baldwin did very well to poke the ball out of danger as the City forwards waited to pounce.

Jones then held well from Scannell before Logan headed two dangerous crosses straight at Mildenhall, the terrace favourite unable to get any real power from inside the area.

So just a point then on their travels for City but don't be fooled by the scoreline, there was plenty to be positive about on the long journey home. The Grecians showed real desire and commitment that they will need to show in bucket loads in the final 11 games.

Bristol Rovers come to town on Wednesday in another crucial League One match and if Exeter City fans and players show the same level of passion and purpose again we could well be in for a memorable evening.

Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant, Moussa, Scannell, Paterson (Spencer 80), Vernon.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Duffy, Taylor, Friend, Golbourne, Dunne, Harley, Sercombe, Haber (Logan 68) Stansfield (Fleetwood 77)