ANTHONY O’Riordan insists Colchester Rugby Club’s winless start to the season is no reason to panic.

But the club’s director of rugby admits the Mill Road outfit must be more consistent, if they are to climb the National League Three London and South East table.

Colchester, who have been without a number of experienced players, have lost all three of their opening matches this season.

But all of the defeats have been by narrow margins with losing bonus points, the latest being a 21-14 home loss at the hands of Dorking last weekend.

And ahead of their trip to play Sutton and Epsom this weekend, O’Riordan believes they can recapture that winning feeling.

O’Riordan told the Daily Gazette: “There’s no panic, because we’re not getting beaten by cricket scores – it’s more a case of it being frustrating because we know that they can do better and we’re losing rugby matches.

“But we’re not losing by big margins and if we follow the processes we have in place, we will start winning games.

“It’s early days – it’s only three games and we lost more than this last year and came back and won five games in January.

“We just want to see the right processes in place and become more consistent, because when that happens we’ll run away with games.

“It’s about a state of mind – we’re a confident side and it’s about ensuring that the boys are on the same sheet of paper as the staff and the club.

“I’m a hard task-master and I never like losing games.

“I was pleased with everyone against Dorking – I just wasn’t pleased with the result.

“When you’re losing by two, five and seven-point margins in the first three matches that we highlighted that we should have won, it’s very disappointing.”

Colchester have been missing some of their most experienced players of late, including fly-half David Higgins, prop James Mitchell and brothers Liam and Ollie Pickett.

But O’Riordan has been happy with how their replacements have performed and is refusing to use their absence as an excuse for the lack of victories.

“Dorking was a game that we lost as opposed to getting beaten,” added O’Riordan.

“There was a bit of naivety on our part and that seems to be the common thread.

“But as naïve as we have been, we have had seven first-team players out and that has contributed to a lack of consistency.

“You can’t account for losing the players but that’s the challenge that we face and it’s not an excuse.

“We can’t dwell on it and it’s an opportunity for other players to shine - I’m never worried about who we select.

“Joe McMillan came on and made a big impact and was full of energy and Sammie Brown did the same.

“He took his opportunity and that’s what it’s about for these young lads, it’s about taking their chance."