Posh held by Southend United at the ABAX after Chris Forrester misses late penalty.

Peterborough United were held to a 0-0 draw by Southend United at the ABAX Stadium with a last gasp penalty from Chris Forrester saved by Shrimpers goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Forrester was put on the spot after a contreversial penalty awarded by the assistant referee as Marcus Maddison took a tumble in the box.

Graham Westley's men started in positive fashion with Erhun Oztumer forcing a superb save out of goalkeeper Daniel Bentley while Jack Baldwin fired wide from long-range after some nice skill in a tight area.

Ben Alnwick made a routine stop to deny Luke O'Neill after a poor clearance from Michael Smith. Alnwick made a much better stop moments later as Tyrone Barnett met a corner kick from the left, the keeper tipping the ball over the bar.

Conor Washington saw a deflected shot from 25-yards go wide for a corner kick on 21 minutes. Oztumer saw a left-foot shot scooped clear by Bentley after a neat Posh move.

Barnett had the ball in the back of the net on 33 minutes, but his goal was rightly chalked off for offside.

Bentley produced a fine stop to push away a looping header from Angol following a Smith delivery with Washington seeing his follow-up blocked.

Washington burst into the box on 48 minutes, but his fierce effort was palmed over by the impressive Bentley with Wilson firing wide less than 60 seconds later from distance.

Jon Taylor replaced Harry Beautyman just after the hour mark as Westley made his first change. Taylor saw a shot deflected for a corner before a swerving shot from Forrester was well gathered by Bentley.

Kgosi Ntlhe replaced Wilson as Posh made their final change - a first appearance in many months of the left-back who has been on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Southend missed a glorious chance to open the scoring on 75 minutes as Payne found room down the left, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Posh were awarded a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time with Maddison felled in the box, but midfielder Chris Forrester saw his spot-kick comfortably saved.

Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Almeida Santos, Baldwin, Wilson (sub Ntlhe 73min), Forrester, Oztumer, Samuelsen, Beautyman (sub Taylor 61min), Washington, Angol (sub Maddison 67min). Unused subs: Henry, Addison,  Coulibaly, Nicholson.

Southend: Bentley, Thompson, Payne (sub Mooney 90min), Atkinson, Bolger, Leonard, Barnett (sub Hunt 81min), Deegan, O'Neill, Barrett, Hendrie. Unused subs: Worrall, Timlin,  Smith, Hurst, Kipriani.

Half-time: Peterborough United 0-0 Southend United
Full-time: Peterborough United 0-0 Southend United
Attendance: 7,057 (959 Southend fans)