Rochdale couldn’t find the goal their play deserved, having to settle for a goalless draw against Southend United at the Crown Oil Arena.
Dale went close a number of times in a first-half they dominated, before a more even second-half also ended in a stalemate in the first of three home games in a week for Keith Hill’s men.
There was a late change to the starting line-up, as Joe Rafferty was replaced by Scott Wiseman. Otherwise, Dale were unchanged from the weekend’s victory at Rotherham United.
Dale started strongly, with Bradden Inman, Matty Done and Andy Cannon all testing the Southend defence in the opening ten minutes.
Cannon then headed wide a Wiseman cross from the right, before Ian Henderson was denied by Mark Oxley from the edge of the area.
The visitors’ first effort came through Marc Antoine-Fortune, who crashed one into the side netting shortly before the half-hour mark.
Keith Hill’s side continued to dominate the opening period, as Cannon had an effort palmed away after sustained pressure on the Shrimpers’ penalty area, before Stephen Humphrys flashed the ball across the face of goal with no Dale player quite close enough to tap-in.
With the final chance of the half, Inman did well to beat his marker before whipping in a superb cross, which was headed narrowly over the bar by Henderson who made a darting run to the near post.
Henderson came close after the break too, when he got a slight touch to Humphrys’ excellent through ball, although Mark Oxley was out quickly to clear.
Humphrys was then replaced by Steven Davies, shortly before a double substitution of Ollie Rathbone and Alex Dobre for Inman and Cannon.
Anthony Wordsworth and Stephen McLaughlin sent efforts at goal for the visitors, whilst Davies saw a half-volley beaten away by Oxley.
Dobre’s cut inside and following shot was held comfortably by Oxley has he tried to make the difference, whilst Josh Wright saw a shot dip over the crossbar for the visitors.
Michael Turner headed over for Southend in added time with the last chance of the game, as Dale had to settle for just the one point.