SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown was left ‘bitterly disappointed’ following his side’s 2-0 defeat at Peterborough United in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight.

Brown made six changes to his starting line-up at London Road.

And he was frustrated those coming into the side were unable to impress.

“I’m bitterly disappointed,” said Brown.

“The changes that we made gave an opportunity to players who have not been in the first team of late.

“John White, Nile Ranger and Jermaine McGlashan came in, there were quite a few of them and it was an opportunity for them to grab the shirt but not too many did and that includes the ones who played on Saturday.

“We came up against a very good side and it was a poor performance from us in terms of passing the ball and keeping the ball.

“Peterborough did it better than us and I thought they played cleverly.

“They found their spare man and we didn’t so it’s looked as though their system has worked and ours hasn’t.”

Peterborough scored a goal in either half to win the second round clash.

And Blues were unable to make a breakthrough despite their hosts finishing the match with nine men following injuries to Leo Da Silva Lopes and Ryan Tafazolli after Grant McCann had made all three of his substitutions.

“We had a flurry of chances at the end against nine men but it was too little too late and it’s a bad night,” said Brown.

“The only positive I can see is that we’re injury free for Bristol Rovers which, without a shadow of a doubt, is a bigger game.

“But we never really stretched them and when we were being dispossessed we were in our own half and some mistakes led to their goals.”

Brown will now want to avoid a repeat at Bristol Rovers in League One this weekend.

But he must also decide who deserves to stay in the starting line-up.

“Stephen Hendrie was fairly solid on Saturday but he was a little bit indifferent tonight,” said Brown.

“You can go through the whole team but we haven’t done enough to hurt Peterborough and we haven’t done enough with the ball which will always culminate in you losing games.”