Manager Paul Sturrock didn't hang around to watch his sides' penalty shoot-out against Gillingham on Tuesday night.

The Southend manager opted to sit in the Roots Hall changing rooms to mull over his disappointment rather than witness United's shoot-out win unfold.

And it was only the roar of the home fans that told him that his son Blair had scored the crucial spot kick to seal Southend's place in round two.

"I was sitting in the changing room," he told Blues Player. "I am not a great believer in penalties - I was more disappointed with the performance so had a wee think about things in the changing room.

"I heard the roars so I kind of guessed what the story was."

Although pleased to be in the hat for the next round Sturrock found it hard to conceal his disappointment at another lacklustre home display.

"We are looking for a certain standard because Roots Hall has to become a bastion," he admitted.

"If we are to turn the corner then we must be confident of winning our home games and I still don't think we have found that magic formula.

"We were very, very leggy tonight. I gave the players as much rest as I could but I am starting to think that maybe I have been under training them rather than over doing it.

"There were one or two who looked a shadow of the way they performed at Wolves and Bradford.

"My players didn't play well today, as a team or individually, and I won't be using tiredness as an excuse.

"I think that some of the players aren't up to fitness yet and they can't contribute Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday. But when asked to do individuals jobs they let themselves down."

Despite that though several penalty saves from keeper Rhys Evans guided the Blues through to round two much to the delight of his manager.

He said: "At the end of the day I am happy to be through to the next round as I want to go as far as possible in this trophy."