Southend 0-0 Newport County
Fri 31 Jan - Sky Bet League Two - Att: 5,993
Robbie Willmott missed a second-half penalty as Southend held promotion rivals Newport County in Friday's League Two fixture.
Barnard threatened to grab a debut goal for the hosts early on, but saw his shot from the edge of the box deflected wide for a corner.
Exiles keeper Pidgeley had to be alert to tip Atkinson's header onto the post before the break.
But it was the visitors who spurned the best opportunity of the match after Mark Phillips had brought down Ryan Burge to hand County a penalty.
Willmott stepped up and blazed well wide with 51 minutes on the clock, and the ex-Cambridge United winger was denied redemption when Daniel Bentley made a superb stoppage-time stop.
Phil Brown's Southend are now unbeaten in eight league games, while Newport have not won in five.
Fri 31 Jan - Sky Bet League Two - Att: 5,993
Robbie Willmott missed a second-half penalty as Southend held promotion rivals Newport County in Friday's League Two fixture.
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Barnard threatened to grab a debut goal for the hosts early on, but saw his shot from the edge of the box deflected wide for a corner.
Exiles keeper Pidgeley had to be alert to tip Atkinson's header onto the post before the break.
But it was the visitors who spurned the best opportunity of the match after Mark Phillips had brought down Ryan Burge to hand County a penalty.
Willmott stepped up and blazed well wide with 51 minutes on the clock, and the ex-Cambridge United winger was denied redemption when Daniel Bentley made a superb stoppage-time stop.
Phil Brown's Southend are now unbeaten in eight league games, while Newport have not won in five.