Joe Edwards admits Colchester United should have killed the game off after losing 4-2 at Shrewsbury Town.

Edwards said he did not see the U’s relinquishing control of the match at Greenhous Meadow, after they raced into a two-goal lead by half-time.

But the former Yeovil Town midfielder conceded that Colchester should have controlled the game more in the second half, after Salop hit four goals after the break to secure a dramatic victory.

Edwards said: “We played a really good first half and we’ve been playing well recently and wanted to keep that run going, so it’s a massive disappointment for us.

“We didn’t see it coming; their first goal gave them momentum and we needed to kill the game after that but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

“Their changes made a difference and they’ll feel they affected the game.

“They went to four up front and went very direct and they had nothing to lose.

“Fair play to them but it’s time for us now to shake off that tag of conceding goals.

“It’s hard when the other side get an early goal in the second half like that but we should have done better and controlled the game more.

“We were still 2-1 up and we should have killed the game like we have done previously.”

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