SOUTHEND United kicked off the group stages of the Premier League Cup with a 3-1 defeat against Fulham at Roots Hall tonight.

Blues – who included Will Atkinson in their starting line-up – took the lead in the first half with O’Shane Stewart netting an impressive volley.

Fulham hit back after the break to secure victory.

Blues had early shouts for a penalty away when Louis Walsh went down inside the area before Matt Rush was denied in front of goal after opting to delay shooting.

Moments later, a looping header from Tommy Davis was tipped wide of the left post by Fulham goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.

In reply, the visitors’ Sonny Hilton dragged a low effort wide of the left post before Blues hit back to open the scoring in the 22nd minute, with Stewart netting a spectacular effort.

The midfielder latched onto a half cleared Lewis Gard free-kick and sent a fantastic first time volley into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

However, Fulham equalised at the start of the second half with Hilton sending a low effort into the bottom left hand corner of the net after hesitant defending from the Shrimpers.

Fulham soon came close to taking the lead with Blues goalkeeper Colin Andeng-Ndi doing well to deny both Kieron Bowie and Hilton with a fine double save.

But the visitors were not to be denied for long as they took the lead in the 74th minute, with O’Neill bursting through and firing home a well-taken effort.

Moments later, Andeng-Ndi did well to keep out an effort from Hilton before Fulham made it 3-1 four minutes from time with substitute Charlie Robinson heading home from close range.

Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Howard, Sayers, Stewart, Davis, Wallace, Benton, Gard (Brown 71), Rush, Atkinson (Unwin 85), Walsh Subs not used: Purcell, Chandler & Anyadike