SOUTHEND United’s under 21 manager Kevin Maher was left frustrated by his side’s 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth tonight.

A double from Conor Chaplin saw the Shrimpers knocked out of the Premier League Cup in the first round.

And Maher was disappointed to have suffered an early elimination.

“We’re obviously disappointed to have lost because we wanted to progress in this competition,” said the former Blues midfielder.

“The first goal Portsmouth scored was an unbelievable effort to be fair and the same player got their second as well with a breakaway goal.

“He’s played quite a few times for their first team and it showed.

“We got back into it with a goal from Dan Matsuzaka and could have got an equaliser towards the end with a few crosses which went across the face of goal.

“Theo (Robinson) also went close but sadly it wasn’t our night.”

Portsmouth when in front in the 15th minute when Chaplin raced onto Adam May’s ball forward and thundered an impressive effort into the roof of the net.

In reply, Blues midfielder Joe Bedford then had an effort cleared off the line by Theo Widdrington before the home-side hit back with Adam Buxton being denied by Ted Smith.

After the break, Portsmouth goalkeeper Liam O’Brien did well to deny Robinson before the Hampshire side doubled their lead in the 57th minute when a breakaway from a Blues corner resulted in Ben Tollitt teeing up Chaplin to score.

Southend got back into the game when Harry Phillips’ free-kick was powerfully headed home by Matsuzaka.

However only a fine save from Smith then stopped Chaplin completing his hat-trick before Blues almost netted a late equaliser when Robinson’s goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by Gareth Evans.

Robinson was joined by fellow trialists Tom Lang and Dany N’Guessan in the starting line-up and all three will hold talks with manager Phil Brown in the morning.

Southend: Smith; Williams, Lang, Bedford, Matsuzaka, Kyprianou, Batlokwa, Phillips, Cotton (Wabo 65); N’Guessan, Robinson

Subs not used: Bexon, Clifford, Walker & Bwomono