Recent surge has covered up problems for Colchester

That is the view of U’s manager Paul Lambert, who believes his side’s rise up the table since his arrival last October has raised expectations.

After missing out on the play-offs, Lambert’s side have slumped to three successive defeats in Coca-Cola League One.

They head to bottom club Hereford United tomorrow looking to halt that slide.

The Edgar Street clash marks the six-month anniversary of Lambert’s first game in charge of Colchester.

Lambert said: “I remember John Robertson saying once that winning covers a multitude of sins.

“We had a run this season where we were up near the play-offs.

“When you have thought about it for so long and just fallen short, the disappointment is huge.

“But to win the title or promotion, you need to sustain that and we have just fallen short.

“This club has had two disappointments in the last two years.

“Relegation can have a different effect on different players and the football club needs a bit of time to adjust.

“This football club has had some great times and some barren times.

“It’s up to us to get the great times back.”

Some fans reacted angrily to Colchester’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of lowly Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday.

However, Lambert said he could understand their frustrations.

“The buck always stops with the manager,” said Lambert, who will shortly begin telling some of his players that they are surplus to requirements at Colchester.

“I have not got a problem with that, none whatsoever.

“My job was to keep the team in the league and it’s up to me to get the players in to sustain a run.

“The last two seasons have proved that we have not been good enough.

“I know exactly what we need and who we need to get in.

“If we get the ones that we want in, we will be a good side.

“We can’t wait to start on a level playing field.”

Lambert said Colchester owe it to their fans to produce an improved performance tomorrow.

And although there is seemingly little for them to play for between now and the end of the season, the U’s boss wants nothing less than maximum effort from his players against the Bulls.

He said: “It will be a tough game at Hereford – they’re fighting for their lives.

“But we have an obligation to rectify Monday’s performance.

“Personal pride comes into it, that’s for sure.

“Our fans will have made a four-hour journey and we have an obligation to them to give them a game of football.

“The players get well paid, that’s for sure.

“If you don’t perform well, the only person to blame is yourself.”