Boss Steve Whitton is still counting his walking wounded following Colchester's dismal defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

On Tuesday four players had still not trained since Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Adams Park because of injury or illness.

Skipper David Gregory, Joe Keith, plus Gavin and Ross Johnson were all nursing injuries.

Whitton said: "We've looked at the video of Saturday's game and we're all feeling a bit sorry for ourselves. We have not played to our full potential for the majority of the season and that is still very much the case.

"We are simply not defending as we should do and it is costing us dearly almost every match."

Whitton admitted the U's, who are conceding an average of two goals a game in the past six or seven outings, have not defended solidly since skipper Richard Wilkins was forced into early retirement last month by a neck injury.

The U's boss said: "We knew we were going to miss a player of Richard's outstanding qualities, both as a captain and for his organising abilities. But Richard's absence is not the reason why we are now losing games.

"We are not defending as we should be throughout the team. That's not just defenders, it's front men and midfielders not closing down their opponents quickly enough.

"And that's something we'll continue to work very hard on until the message finally sinks in."

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