Both sides hit the crossbar in the second half but that was the closest anyone came to scoring. The result does little to assist either Cheltenham's bid to get out of the bottom four or Southend's hopes of challenging for the play-off places.
The first half was high on endeavour from both sides but low on chances with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.
Cheltenham's Ashley Vincent saw a shot held by Southend goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall and his team-mate David Bird sent a long-range drive wide not long afterwards.
Southend almost opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when a free-kick from loan signing Robert Milsom was met by a header from Adam Barrett.
Goalkeeper Scott Brown could only parry it but defender Andy Gallinagh moved in quickly to boot the ball clear.
The second half produced slightly more goalmouth action. Vincent had the ball in the net but the effort was ruled out for offside. The same player then saw a shot touched over the bar by Mildenhall.
Southend's best chance of the match fell to Milsom, who volleyed against the crossbar midway through the second half. Cheltenham's Lloyd Owusu then headed one off a defender and onto the top of the bar at the other end.
Both sides could have won the game in stoppage time. Only a fine tackle by David Bird prevented Southend striker Kevin Betsy from scoring and then Cheltenham substitute Damian Spencer placed a shot inches wide of the post.
Overall, though, this was a game to forget for both sides and the meagre turnout of less than 3,000 supporters on a cold night.