A TOUCHING gesture from Exeter City's travelling fans helped their team to a much-improved performance in the 0-0 Coca-Cola League One draw at Southend United on Saturday.

The relationship between club and supporters has become fractured recently, with manager Paul Tisdale last week hitting out at the booing that followed Ryan Harley's man-of-the-match award against Oldham.

Some Grecians followers were left incensed by his remarks and even called for him to apologise at a fans' forum on Thursday.

But all was forgotten on Saturday as the supporters — led by Echo Sport columnist Alan Crockford — produced a show of solidarity before the match at Roots Hall.

More than 100 fans arrived early to cheer the players off the team bus — a move that motivated Tisdale and his team ahead of the match.

"The players were not too sure what to expect when they saw the crowds before the game," the manager said.

"They were a bit hesitant getting off the coach because they weren't quite sure what was coming.

"But the players really do relish that sort of support — they prosper on it. It was a fantastic gesture and the whole of Exeter was fantastic today, be it the supporters and the team.

"Hats off to Alan (Crockford) for doing that. I did go back and thank him for it. These things make such a difference, so to all those who got there early, thank you very much."

As well as the gesture before the match, City's 383-strong away support rallied the players throughout Saturday's contest.

Midfielder James Dunne came closest to ending the Roots Hall stalemate when his thunderous volley was tipped on to the crossbar by Southend keeper Steve Mildenhall.

And City were also denied when Adam Stansfield was given offside as he headed home the rebound.

Dunne said: "To have a couple of hundred fans cheering us as we come off the bus meant so much.

"It helped the players a lot and it really gave us a good feeling going into the game.

"We are thankful to them for showing up like that because we are going to need them between now and the end of the season. Our fans are special."

"I haven't got a clue how the keeper got across to that," said Dunne. "But it was a good shot and a good save as well.

"I didn't even see the follow-up but I have heard that he wasn't offside. But sometimes when you are at the bottom you don't get those kinds of decisions going for you. That is the way it is.

"We played well on Saturday. We had a lot of the ball in the first half but we didn't really penetrate them enough and then in the second half we were well on top. We probably should have won the match but it didn't quite happen.

"Their keeper has made a couple of good saves, but it just wasn't our day. When you are at the bottom you need to pick up results and beat the teams in and around you

"Hopefully we can go into Wednesday's match and pick up a win because that is what we need to do."