Gainsborough Trinity manager Brian Little hailed the impact of new signing Gavin Cowan as the Blues earned a point with a goal-less draw at high-fliers Southport with a "gritty and gutsy" performance.

Centre-back Cowan, who joined the club from leaders Fleetwood Town, was part of a defensive line that put in a solid display to withstand the pressure applied by the Sandgrounders, who are second in the Blue Square North table.

Little, whose relegation-threatened side have taken seven points from their last four games, believes Cowan and youngster Andrew Boyce could form a excellent partnership in the heart of the Trinity defence.

"Cowan proved his worth on Saturday and will prove his worth from now until the end of the season," said the former Aston Villa boss.

"We have a good combination in two centre-backs, Boyce and Cowan.

"We looked far more solid than we've been for any length of time."

Little said he was satisfied to take a point from a game he described as a "bonus" game, with third-bottom Trinity facing a big match at home to Hyde tomorrow night.

"I think we deserved a point and I was very pleased with our gritty and gutsy performance," he said.

"They put a lot pressure on us in the second half with balls into the box, but I thought we defended well.

"There were a couple of occasions in the first half where I thought 'hey, we might sneak this here', but in fairness to them they turned it on in the second half, put us under pressure and I was pleased to get a point."

Southport started well, with Blues keeper Phil Barnes saving Chris Simm's near-post shot.

The game then drifted into a lacklustre affair, with the Trinity defence comfortable, dealing with anything thrown at them by the home side.

Southport upped the pressure in the second half.

Ciaran Kilheeney had the best chance to open the scoring but was thwarted by Barnes.

At the other end Sam Aiston produced a strong run and a dangerous cross which Earl David did well to nudge to safety.

Then near the end Boyce nearly won the game for Trinity but his header from Ashley Burbeary's corner was cleared off the line by Robbie Booth.

Although happy with his side's defensive performance, Little felt the referee's decisions added to the pressure his team faced.

"A lot of the pressure they put us under came from balls into the box from free-kicks, some of which were from questionable decisions by the referee," he said.

"I don't think we got too much of the rub of green in terms of decisions.

"We had a lot of free-kicks given against. In fairness some of them were fouls, but you just expect to get a little bit given your way in ones where they are even.

"He also booked (Darryn) Stamp when he closed the ball down and it hit him on the arm which was more unlucky than anything else, there was no deliberate handball."