READING FC Under 21s were beaten 1-0 at Southend United in the Checkatrade Trophy last night.

Royals fielded a side containing 10 homegrown players from the club’s Academy, while striker Danny Loader and defender Axel Andresson were unavailable due to international call-ups.

And the visitors were up against a Shrimpers team containing a number of senior players and ex-Royals striker Simon Cox on the bench.

Royals were soon under pressure as George Legg was forced to beat away shots from Dru Yearwood and Elvis Bwomono.

At the other end Sam Smith’s effort was smothered by Southend stopper Mark Oxley following good work by Pelle Clement.

But the hosts broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Theo Robinson tapped in following a storming run by Jermaine McGlashan.

Royals continued to threaten and were denied a penalty appeal when Andy Rinomhota went down in the box.

Yet Scott Marshall’s visitors also required a goal-saving block from Gabriel Osho to deny Robinson a second from close range.

Smith fired narrowly over the bar after the break before Jake Sheppard tested Oxley.

And Royals saw a second penalty shout waved away when a Josh Barrett effort appeared to strike a defender’s arm.

To add to their frustrations, Barrett also missed a glorious chance to equalise when he stabbed wide from a corner late on.

Reading U21s: Legg, Medford-Smith, Osho (C), Burley, Holmes, House (Barrett 67), East, Rinomhota (Frost 56), Sheppard, Clement, Smith. Subs not used: Rosario, Howe, Rollinson, Shokunbi, Green.

Southend United: Oxley, Hendrie, Fortune, Yearwood, McGlashan, Bridge, Klass, Kyprianou, Robinson (Ba 67), Bwomono, White (C). Subs not used: Bishop, Timlin, Cox, McLaughlin, Cotton, Matsuzaka.

Referee: Andy Haines.

Attendance: 1,148.