SOUTHEND United’s under 23 side suffered Premier League Cup disappointment tonight as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Oxford United at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers failed to take a number of clear cut chances coming their way.

And the visitors took full advantage to go through to the group stages of the competition – despite a late strike from Blues forward Norman Wabo.

Southend created the first chance of the evening with Wabo sprinting through – only to see his low shot saved by Oxford United goalkeeper Jack Stevens.

Moments later, Shrimpers midfielder Isaac Hutchinson had a well struck 25 yard shot well held by Stevens who then also got down well to deny Amadou Ba.

Wabo was then also denied by Stevens before Oxford broke the deadlock, with Dejon Noel-Williams on target from the penalty spot.

The striker won the spot-kick after he was brought down by Shrimpers goalkeeper Nathan Bishop and confidently sent the penalty into the left hand side of the South Stand net with Bishop diving in the opposite direction.

After the break, Blues were forced into a making a change as skipper Lewis Gard limped off and was replaced by Emile Acquah.

And, shortly after the enforced alteration, the Shrimpers came within a whisker of drawing back level as the visitors somehow survived a goalmouth scramble with Renei Batlokwa and Sonny Coutts attempting to force the ball home from close range.

But, after surviving the scares, Oxford doubled their lead in the 78th minute when a left wing corner was headed down by Harvey Bradbury, which enabled Fabio Lopes to flick the ball home from close range.

Blues got back in the game two minutes from time when Wabo slid home a fine right wing cross from Ba.

But the Shrimpers were unable to net a last gasp equaliser.

Southend United: Bishop, Howard, Curran (Humphreys 85), Coutts, Clifford, Batlokwa, Pianim (Mitchell-Nelson 78), Gard (Acquah 65), Hutchinson, Ba, Wabo