MOLESLEY: WE WILL FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO STAY IN THE LEAGUE

Battling Shrimpers out of the drop zone

- Matt Ramsay

MARK Molesley felt his Southend side had enjoyed a strong week following their draw at Cambridge.

The Shrimpers followed up their victory at Newport in midweek with a goalless draw at the Abbey Stadium in one of only two League Two matches that beat the weather.

The draw lifts Molesley’s side to 22nd, the first time Southend have been out of the relegation zone since they went bottom on October 17.

The U’s kept a clean sheet, four days after conceding four at Salford, but struggled to threaten the Southend goal and had to settle for a point that extended their lead at the top to four points.

“I was really pleased with the performance,” Molesley said. “In tough conditions, our second away game in a week, away at top of the table was always going to be a challenge, but we more than matched them.

“We had a lot of shots, probably didn’t test their keeper enough, but that final pass or final shot sometimes couldn’t quite getaway. It was a full action game and we showed the right attitude, work rate and endeavor.

“We’ve shown all the fighting characteristics that we’re going to need, but all we’ve done is given us a platform and we’ve got to continue to build on that.

Asked about Southend’s penalty shout in the first half for a possible foul by Jack Iredale on Ash Nathaniel-George, Molesley said