Ten-man Southend ended a run of three straight defeats with a vital point in a 0-0 draw at Oxford City to boost their survival hopes.

The Shrimpers saw Nathan Ralph dismissed 11 minutes from time for two bookings but held on and sit out of the relegation zone on goal difference – but have three games in hand on Ebbsfleet. City are seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

City came closest to breaking the deadlock six minutes before the break but Collin Andeng-Ndi produced a superb save to turn away Aaron William-Bushell’s effort.

Josh Ashby then saw a shot for the hosts hit the crossbar with 64 minutes on the clock and another Andeng-Ndi save denied Andre Burley from close range.

The hosts could not make the extra man count after Ralph was shown his second yellow card.