Colchester United skipper David Fox insists the club’s players must take responsibility for their disappointing home defeat against Crewe Alexandra.

The U’s were beaten 3-2 by the Alex in their crucial basement battle and are now three points adrift of League One safety.

Some fans vented their anger towards boss Tony Humes in the closing stages of the defeat, their sixth in the last seven league matches at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

But playmaker Fox says the players should shoulder the blame for the defeat - and not Humes.

Fox said: “The lads take responsibility for the game – the manager puts us out there and picks the team but ultimately, once those 11 players cross the line it’s up to them.

“In the first half, there were no complaints because the boys were performing.

“But if they’re not, the nature of the beast is that the manager will get the blame.

“The players need to have a long hard look at ourselves because that one was on us really."

For more on this story and five pages of coverage on the U's game with Crewe Alexandra, see Monday's Daily Gazette.