Southend United have reached half time goalless with Plymouth Argyle, but they were forced to play with 10 men for much of the opening period of their League Two contest.

United's task was made difficult by the sending off of Cian Bolger inside the first 15 minutes for two bookable offences, both for challenges on Argyle's Marvin Morgan.

Plymouth tried to capitalise on their numerical superiority as Lewis Alessandra squandered two chances to give the Devon club the lead, the second of which was a free-kick from the edge of the Southend area which went close.

However, Southend continued to compete and Ben Coker almost gave them the advantage only to blaze his effort high and wide.

United stopper Daniel Bentley was then called into action on 28 minutes to keep out Reuben Reid's strike.

Plymouth, who have scored just four times this season, enjoyed the better of the play before the break and Jason Banton went close for the hosts, only for Bentley to save.

In first-half stoppage time, Carl McHugh almost scored a sensational goal with a 35-yard strike that the Southend keeper again kept out.