Something has got to change.

The stark words of John McGreal, following another away-day defeat for Colchester United.

Nearly 800 U’s fans were at the Abbey Stadium to witness their club’s latest disappointing result on the road, a 1-0 reverse at Cambridge United.

And while the performance at the weekend was marginally better than those produced at Accrington Stanley and Luton Town, it was still well below the standards that the U’s are striving for and certainly not a patch on their displays in the second half of last season.

McGreal knows full well that his side cannot afford to allow their poor form on their travels to continue, if they are to launch a sustained challenge for promotion this season.

There is still a long way to go and the campaign is still in its infancy.

But after three away defeats from three so far, it is not just the U’s head coach that can see that it has become a real issue.

It is not just this season that it has been a problem, either.

Colchester have won just one away game in the calendar year and that was at Leyton Orient, who at that point were already consigned to relegation.

McGreal has admitted they are presently reliant on their home form, in order to pick up points.

But with back-to-back fixtures against Crawley Town and Chesterfield to come at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, poor results on the road are piling extra pressure on the U’s to win on home territory.

So what can be done to change Colchester’s miserable away form?

Some suggest more experience and knowhow is needed on the field, in order to deal with the challenging situations that may arise in often hostile away environments.

The U’s have a young squad and are currently missing the likes of Luke Prosser and Doug Loft, both experienced campaigners who know exactly how to manage games.

Colchester also undoubtedly need to be more clinical in front of goal on their travels.

In all three of their away games so far this season, they have squandered opportunities to score at crucial times and that has proved particularly costly.

Colchester’s next away game is a trip to play Cheltenham Town, in just under a fortnight’s time.

The last the U's went to Whaddon Road, they clinched a timely victory that turned their season around.

McGreal and his team will be hoping for a similar outcome this time around, preferably on the back of two morale-boosting home wins.