SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown felt his side never reached top gear in tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Oxford at Roots Hall.

Blues were beaten 4-3 on penalties against the U’s having been held to a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes.

And Brown was left frustrated by both the performance and the result.

“We weren’t fluent and we didn’t ever reach top gear either,” said Brown.

“We were only in second or third gear and it wasn’t like the games we had with Swindon and Walsall.

“The break we’ve had probably hasn’t done us any favours but I think it will do long term.”

Simon Cox and Stephen McLaughlin both failed to score from the spot in the penalty shoot-out.

And Brown found the defeat tough to take.

“It hurts to lose on penalties,” said Brown.

“But we need to take the hand-brake off against Coventry on Saturday now in what is the biggest game of the season so far.

“We need to make the fans happy again too because I’m sure they are as frustrated with this as I am.

“It’s not the end of the world but now we’ve realised what the problem is in the final third we’ve got to go for it against Coventry.”