The way that his Colchester United team went “on the back foot” after taking a 2-0 lead against Crewe Alexandra left manager Tony Humes struggling to articulate his emotions on a night to forget at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Humes admitted that he couldn’t describe how he was feeling after seeing his team’s two-goal advantage wiped as the Railwaymen came back to win 3-2.

It was the U’s fourth League One defeat in a row and one that was particularly hard to take.

Humes said: “I can’t describe how I’m feeling and I’m sure that everyone feels the same.

“Words can’t describe how we gave that game away.

“Our decision-making was poor in the final third and our quality overall in the game was poor.

“We went on the back foot.

“We should have been confident but went from taking the game on to being nervy and being on the back foot.

“That wasn’t just the back four, it was the whole team.

“Everyone went on the back foot.

“It was too easy for them (Crewe) to score the goals.

“The players are the ones who have to strive and be brave, but there wasn’t enough bravery out there.

“They know what has gone on and they have to take responsibility.

“As soon as the second goal went in at the start of the second half, they should have been playing with confidence and wanting to take the game to Crewe.

“They should also have been managing the game in the right way and we did neither.”