Colchester United head coach John McGreal felt his side deserved much more from their 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town tonight.

The U's lie two points off the play-off places following their loss at Blundell Park in a game where they were the better side for much of the game and created the better chances but ultimately came away empty-handed.

Sam Jones' first goal for Grimsby meant that injury-hit Colchester came away empty-handed but boss McGreal said he was happy with their display, if not the result.

McGreal said: "I think we were far and away the better team and ahead of them in all aspects, "We had a little bit of a mistake and then there was the sucker punch when they scored after 40-odd minutes.

"We also got in some good areas in the second half and asked the question for our midfielders and forwards to get on the end of things on the edge of the box and they still need to be answered.

"But I thought that the boys were fantastic - they kept going and we just didn't get that luck tonight.

"But it was probably the best football match we've had for a number of weeks and we've come away with nothing, so it just shows you the levels there are in division two - you come away with a win when you least expect it and come away with a loss when you more or less dominate the game.

"We're bitterly disappointed with the result but not the performance."