SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock was pleased by the second half but not the first as Blues held Preston North End to a 0-0 draw.

Preston dominated the opening 45 minutes at Deepdale but could not find a way past Southend shot-stopper Luke Daniels.

And Blues were then far better after the break as they ensured the FA Cup first round clash ended goalless.

“I was very disappointed with how we played in the first half,” said Sturrock.

“We were all at sea and people were in the wrong positions. Our goalkeeper has had to keep us in it with a couple of good saves but I thought we looked far more settled in the second half.”

Southend enjoyed more of the ball after the break and Sturrock felt it was the introduction of Bilel Mohsni in place of Jean-Paul Kalala which helped Blues improve.

Kalala returned to the starting line-up having missed the last two matches following a family bereavement.

But the Frenchman was not at his best and was taken off in the 52nd minute “Unfortunately JP was well off it out there,” said the Scotsman.

“He apologised for his performance after the game and I thought it was only after the substitution that we started to take charge of things.”

As a result, Blues came close to winning the tie late on when Ryan Hall was brilliantly denied by Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann.

However, Southend had earlier survived a huge scare when Barry Nicholson failed to convert a first half spot kick given for a foul on Paul Coutts by Michael Timlin.

“Tims is saying he got the ball but he shouldn't be going to ground that like inside the penalty area,” said Sturrock.”

“He should know better than that but thankfully it didn't cost us and we will now have a replay."

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S ECHO