Southend United put up an impressive display against Hull City, but ultimately saw their exploits in the Carling Cup cut short for the season in the second round.

Trailing by two goals in the first half, Franck Moussa went on to reduce the arrears and set the tone for the Blues to dominate for most of the second half.

But having spurned several good opportunities in the final third, Hull made them pay in the closing stages to seal a 3-1 victory.

Southend had a sight of goal in the opening moments of the match when Adam Barrett delivered a cross from the left for Alex Revell to direct a straight header into the gloves of goalkeeper Tony Warner.

But with only seven minutes on the clock, Hull broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion.

Tom Cairney found space 20 yards out to look up and place the perfect shot into the top right-hand corner of the net past the despairing dive of Steve Mildenhall.

Under pressure inside the box, Revell shot wide at the end of an in-swinging cross from Simon Francis, with Southend's impressive entourage of fans in full voice inside the KC Stadium.

Alan McCormack then had an excellent chance, with Anthony Grant's delivery finding the Irishman with time to line up a shot from just 12 yards out, but he couldn't keep the ball down and blazed over.

Play immediately switched to the other end and only an excellent, last ditch challenge from Jean-Yves M'Voto denied Jozy Altidore breaking through on goal.

Three minutes before half time though, the American striker was not to be denied. He stepped up to take a free kick 25 yards out and somehow managed to drill the ball past Mildenhall at his near post.

Yet two minutes later, Southend were back in the game through Moussa.

The Belgian midfielder picked up a bouncing ball on the edge of the area and hit a half volley that deceived Warner in the Hull goal.

After the break, Francis looked to play in Revell with a cross from the right, but the striker was again closely marked and struggled to get a shot away inside the area.

But Revell soon had a better chance in front of goal, with Grant threading him through, only for Warner to race out to make the vital block.

Southend certainly weren't holding back when it came to pushing forward and Lee Barnard was soon trying his luck from long range, with an effort that had Warner diving low to make the save.

Grant then had a golden opportunity to get the Blues back on level terms. Moussa's pass found him alone at the far post, but Warner again came to Hull's rescue with an impressive save, as Southend looked to make their pressure count.

Barnard was inches away from connecting with a McCormack cross from the right, after Warner came out and missed the ball.

Unfortunately, the Blues suffered the ultimate sucker punch with 15 minutes remaining, after substitute Geovanni was on hand to slide the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

It was a cruel blow to Southend, but there was still time for Barrett to go close with a late header, as they were narrowly undone on their travels up north.

Southend: Mildenhall, Francis, Heath, M'Voto, Barrett, Grant (Betsy 69), Christophe (Sawyer 79), McCormack, Moussa, Revell, Barnard (Walker 83).

Hull: Warner, Doyle, Fagan, Barmby (Geovanni 60), Altidore, Halmosi, Mouyokolo, Featherstone, Atkinson (Ghilas 74), Cooper, Cairney (Kilbane 74).