Town's penultimate pre-season friendly at Southend remains 0-0 at the break.

Bartosz Bialkowski started in goal with skipper Luke Chambers at right-back, Tyrone Mings on the left and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra at the heart of the defence.

In central midfield, Cole Skuse partnered Luke Hyam with Jay Tabb back from his minor niggle on the left and Paul Anderson on the right. Frank Nouble and Daryl Murphy began the game up front.

Returning striker David McGoldrick was named on the bench, while trialists Balint Bajner and Kevin Bru were also amongst the subs. Southend, who play QPR tomorrow, included eight trialists in their squad.

Shrimpers legend Freddie Eastwood took the kick-off, having left the club over the summer with his retirement due to ongoing knee problems likely but made way soon afterwards.

Nouble struck the game’s first serious shot in the sixth minute from just inside the box but Southend keeper Paul Smith blocked.

Chances were rare after that with neither side able to carve out a significant opportunity with the ball appearing to get caught in the less than closely cut surface. All too many final balls were under or over-hit at both ends, although Town had the greater share of the ball.

On 25 Kevan Hurst crossed from the Southend right and Lee Barnard flicked a header just over the bar.

A promising 38th minute Town move down the left involving Murphy and Mings ended with a Nouble shot hitting a defender, then soon after Skuse mis-hit a volley wide.

There was a scare for the home side just before the break when keeper Paul Smith hammered a clearance against Nouble but the ball rebounded straight into his arms.

Soon after referee Pat Miller brought a less than inspiring half to an end with neither side particularly looking like breaking the deadlock.

Town had had more of the ball but had threatened only very occasionally, Nouble’s early low shot and late inadvertent effort the best of the chances.

The Blues are set to make the usual numerous substitutions with McGoldrick expected to come on around the 70-minute mark and trialists Bajner and Bru also set to be involved.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), MIngs, Hyam, Smith, Berra, Anderson, Skuse, Murphy, Nouble,, Tabb. Subs: Gerken, Hewitt, Parr, Clarke, Wordsworth, Bajner, Stewart, Henshall, Taylor, Marriott, Bishop, McGoldrick, Bru.

Photo: Action Images

floridaboy added 20:46 - Jul 29 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Same old story. Maybe MM is hoping that by playing that side he will bore teams into submission and give us 3 points!
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mroberts added 20:53 - Jul 29 I agree, it disappoints me the way Mick aligns up his forward partnerships. We seriously need a play maker in midfield and I was hoping that the money from Cressie would help us get someone decent.
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ipswichtillidie added 20:55 - Jul 29 I must say when I saw the 4 midfielders selected i predicted a 0-0 HT! No pace/no creativity. Henshall Left/ Anderson or Stewart Right and only one from Hyam/Skuse with the other player yet to have actually signed would be a middle 4 that could see us progress.. Our defensive options look very good indeed and i feel with the inlcusion of Marriott the front five look useful if given the service.

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Lightningboy added 20:57 - Jul 29 Jay Tabb?...seriously,why is he still here?
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Bown added 21:02 - Jul 29 kevin bru scores free kick !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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mroberts added 21:03 - Jul 29 I agree with the comment above. I would like to see more off Marriott and Hewitt
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BrettenhamBlue added 21:05 - Jul 29 Gutted Veseli is gone. Have approved all of MMs decisions except this one. Seen him play twice in pre-season and he was awesome. Will be sadly missed and certainly Port Vales future player of the year.
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itfcserbia added 21:45 - Jul 29 I like Skuse and I like Hyam, the kind of players every team needs. But it seems to me that with them alone down the middle we can't create anything inspiring.
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blueboy1981 added 22:06 - Jul 29 Lightningboy .............. not only is he still here - he will be in the team because 'Tabby' is a favourite. Never mind the quality .............. play the favourites.
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Seasider added 22:11 - Jul 29 Well looks like with Micks boring selection at k.o., you got an uninspiring first half.Surely the penny must drop soon that Tabb not effective at this level anymore,Nouble's 2 goals at Colchester were probably a ' flash in the pan';and not enough creativity in midfield. Hoping that the exciting players I mentioned earlier who are on the bench,the two trialists,and a cameo from Didsy will provide a better second half against the mighty shrimpers,who lets not forget are fielding 8 trialists according to report above.

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