Southend 1-1 Torquay

Play-off chasing Southend were held by out-of-form Torquay, who remain winless under interim manager Alan Knill.

Freddie Eastwood cut in from the right to fire home his fourth goal of the season and put the Shrimpers ahead after only nine minutes.

But on-loan Joss Labadie tapped in from Jordan Chappell's cross - his second goal in three games - to level matters

The hosts had the better of a scrappy second period, but both Ben Reeves and Kevan Hurst saw their efforts saved.

The result means Southend are now six points off the play-off places, while Torquay, without a win in 11, lie 20th but are level on points with bottom club Accrington.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"It was a much better performance than we've been serving up here (at Roots Hall) in the last two or three games.

"I'm a bit disappointed we didn't take the three points, we had two real gilt-edged chances in the second half that we should have done better with.

"A settled team is a winning team, and at this moment we are chopping and changing through necessity near enough every week."

"I'm frustrated. I do feel there are a lot of contributing factors to how we've been suffering result-wise lately."

Torquay United manager Alan Knill told BBC Radio Devon:

"On the whole, the performance was as good as I've had since I've been in charge.

"I thought we looked a threat today and as long as we've got that it gives us a great chance.

"It was a good team performance and that's what it's about. We had that on Tuesday, which I thought set a benchmark for us to reach and I thought we had that again today.

"At the end of the game I thought we had as many chances as them, created as many chances as them and looked as dangerous as they did."