MANAGER Kelvin Davis admitted he is disappointed Eastleigh fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup.

The Spitfires suffered a late 1-0 defeat to fellow National League side Southend United on Saturday.

Substitute Aribim Pepple produced an injury-time winner, squeezing the ball home at Joe McDonnell's near post, before celebrating with the jubilant away fans.

Davis admitted he was not "uncomfortable" during the game but was left to rue Eastleigh's missed chances.

"It's disappointing," he said speaking at the Silverlake Stadium. "We are out of the FA Cup, we were at home and we were expected to win the game.

"It would have been nice to emulate the feeling of last season, it was brilliant for the club to get to the first round and beyond.

"The overall feeling is one of disappointment. We had some big chances in the game. When they don't go in, you start thinking 'Is this going to be our day.'

"If you concede a last-minute goal, it's always going to be poor. It was a defendable long ball. We didn't get the first contact.

"Our centre-halves know what's expected. We can deal with that but he gets the better of us in that moment and somehow it finds the back of the net.

"When you have those moments, which are very defendable, it makes it harder to take.

"We are disappointed that we won't have an FA Cup run this season. So going out at the first hurdle is disappointing."

Davis made two changes from the side that lost to Forest Green last weekend, introducing Lloyd Humphries and Luis Fernandes.

Welshman Humphries' afternoon was cut short in the first-half when he was forced off after going to ground twice.

Asked for an upagte on his fitness, Davis said: "It seems like he has tweaked his knee in some way. He's limping a little bit now. He's a tough cookie.

"You could still roll him out if he had one leg. That's his manner and one of the reasons we brought him into the club. Hopefully, he will be available for next week."

Davis suggested Southend should have been reduced to 10 men when Harry Taylor took out Chris Maguire as the last man.

It proceeded a chance for Tyrese Shade but the summer signing was unable to fire past Colin Andeng-Ndi.

"I thought our front guys were very active but it was a shame because on another day they get a goal and we get a head of steam," Davis concluded.

"For whatever reason, it wasn't meant to be. That chance (for Shade) was a decisive moment. You have to ask the question because it was a foul on Mags.

"He was the last man but the referee played on, we didn't score and subsequently the discipline is a yellow, not a red.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If it goes in, you're not bothered. When it doesn't, you're asking questions."