Having placed considerable emphasis on defensive shape in training all of last week, it must have been somewhat infuriating for Tony Humes to see his porous Colchester United side concede a further three goals on Saturday.

The U’s manager was reluctant to criticise his side’s defending in the aftermath of their 3-1 defeat against a vibrant Coventry City side.

As the U’s boss rightly said, their opponents showed their quality in key areas and Colchester perhaps did not get the rub of the green at crucial times in the game.

But given their concerted efforts in training to concentrate on keeping their opponents out in the days that preceded the game, Humes must privately been frustrated that the problems that have plagued his side all season were in evidence once again.

To have shipped 37 goals in their opening 17 league matches is worrying at any level and of particular concern to Humes will be the fact that if anything, the problem seems to be getting worse.

Colchester have let in a total of 19 goals in their last six league games and while it is a team effort, a lack of continuity at the back continues to trouble them.

The Coventry clash saw more alterations made to the back four from the U’s previous league game with established midfielder Joe Edwards preferred to Tosin Olufemi at right-back.

And with Tom Eastman limping off with a calf injury against Coventry, further changes may be enforced for the trip to Millwall this weekend.

There might even be a debutant at the heart of the U’s defence at the New Den, with boss Humes on the lookout for reinforcements at centre-half in the wake of Eastman’s injury.

The season has not yet reached its midway point and Colchester have already used nine defenders in total, although admittedly their cause has not been helped by injuries to the likes of George Elokobi, Kane Vincent-Young and Alex Wynter in that time.

Humes hinted he might consider a change of style away from home, in the aftermath of Colchester’s recent 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers at the end of last month.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how the U’s line-up at Millwall this weekend, as their leaky defence threatens to undermine what could potentially be a productive season.

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.