MATT Harrold silenced the Southend United boo boys at Roots Hall this afternoon by salvaging a share of the spoils for Bristol Rovers with a well placed header.

The forward, who again received a hostile reception up against his former side, scored just five minutes after his introduction.

And that cancelled out Neil Harris' opener for Blues to ensure the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Harrold's equaliser was Rovers' only effort of the afternoon on target and left the home-side feeling hard done by at the final whistle.

The Pirates did momentarily threaten in the 11th minute of the match when winger Mustapha Carayol fired a well struck 25 yard shot wide of the right post.

But Blues soon hit back with Harris heading a right wing cross from Sean Clohessy off target and, moments later, Bilel Mohsni rose well to nod a left wing corner from Ryan Hall over the crossbar from eight yards.

Southend then came even closer to opening the scoring when a looping left wing cross from Hall picked out Harris but the experienced striker saw his header diverted on to the bar by Pirates keeper Scott Bevan.

After that there was little to excite the crowd until the 39th minute when Mark Phillips unleashed a powerful long range shot which flew just inches over the South Stand goal.

At the start of the second period, Blues threatened again when a right wing cross from Hall landed at the feet of Mohsni in front of goal but Bevan dived bravely at the winger’s feet to stop him scoring from close range.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Peter Gilbert headed over a right wing corner from Hall and, three minutes later, Mohsni cut in off the left flank before shooting wide of the far post with a low shot from 25 yards.

But, in the 66th minute, Blues finally made the breakthrough with their two strikers combining brilliantly.

Liam Dickinson was the provider as he outmuscled Byron Anthony before bursting in to the right hand side of the penalty area.

He then unselfishly opted to deliver a low cross in to the path of Harris who slid in at the back post to fire a left footed shot in to the top right hand corner of the net from a narrow angle.

With Southend remaining on top, Hall then had a skimming 20 yard shot tipped wide of the right post by Bevan before Bristol Rovers boss Paul Buckle attempted to get his side back in to the game by bringing on former Blues striker Harrold.

The former Seevic College student was welcomed by a chorus of boos from the home supporters but, within five minutes, he got his own back as he climbed above Mohsni and Chris Barker to head home Matt Gill's long throw from the right hand side.

That handed Harrold his eighth goal of the season but Blues immediately replied with Hall shooting wide of the left post from 25 yards.

Southend boss Paul Sturrock then made his first change of the afternoon in the 85th minute with Anthony Grant replacing Harris.

And he wasted a golden chance to score with his very first touch when he fired over from six yards after Bevan had dropped a high ball while under pressure from Dickinson.

But the Rovers keeper soon had to be back to his best to deny Blues a last minute winner as he dived full length to his left to push a stinging 20 yard half volley from Hall on to the post to ensure the encounter ended all square