Colchester United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season when they were thrashed 4-0 by a ruthless Portsmouth side.

The U’s League Two promotion hopes were dealt a blow by third-placed Pompey, who were in fine form.

Colchester were second best all afternoon against their third-placed opponents in front of a crowd of 6,504, the second-biggest of the season at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made one change to his starting line-up, with Sammie Szmodics recalled to the side for his first start since the U’s 2-2 draw with Morecambe on October 22 in place of Tarique Fosu, who dropped to the bench.

Macauley Bonne and Rekeil Pyke were also among the substitutes, along with former Pompey loanee Alex Wynter.

But there was no place in the side or on the bench for Richard Brindley, who missed out again with a calf problem.

Colchester were second best for much of the first half and struggled to create any clearcut opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.

U’s keeper Sam Walker saved from both Kai Naismith and Enda Stevens, while George Elokobi had to clear from near his own goal-line after Matt Briggs had inadvertently headed Naismith’s cross towards his own goal.

Colchester fell behind midway through the first half when Eoin Doyle dived to head in from close range from Naismith’s cross into the six-yard box.

It was in truth no more than Pompey deserved and the visitors almost doubled their lead six minutes before half-time when Doyle fired well over from just inside the area, after the U’s defence had been caught out by a ball over the top.

Fosu was introduced at half-time for Szmodics by Colchester, as they looked for a way back into the contest.

But the U’s fell further behind just 37 seconds into the second half when Bennett scored from close range from Naismith’s pass, after the hosts had failed to clear following a break down the right.

Stevens’ well-struck left-foot effort deflected inches wide of the far post for Portsmouth, before Colchester fell further behind on the hour when Danny Rose scored at the second attempt from close range after his first effort had been saved by Walker.

And things got even worse for the U’s with 16 minutes remaining when Michael Doyle netted at the second attempt, after Walker had saved his initial effort following a rapid counter-attack by the visitors that saw them break from a U’s attack.

There was no way back for Colchester, who will now need to pick themselves up quickly from this disappointing defeat ahead of their game against Mansfield Town on Tuesday night.