Joe Dunne admitted conceding two sloppy goals cost his Colchester United side dearly against Notts County.

And the U’s boss conceded he may have to raid the loan market for defensive reinforcements, following the home defeat.

Colchester were beaten 2-0 by the Magpies, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

First-half goals from Neal Bishop and Alan Judge left Colchester with a mountain to climb.

And despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half, they were unable to make a breakthrough.

Dunne said: “I’m very disappointed but initially I thought that we were on top.

“We set our stall out to get after them and we did that.

“We attacked them and got balls into the box and into good positions.

“But again it was our old bad habit of conceding from set pieces and giving away stupid free-kicks in wrong areas that cost us and I probably now need to look at changing things.

“We created chances in the second half and we hit the bar.

“We should be proud of the way the players responded in the second half because we created chances.

“After last Saturday (at Chelmsford), it could have been five or six if we’d have capitulated.

“But we didn’t do that and we showed good character to try and come back.

“Notts County are a top six team who are organised and made it difficult for us.

“i was very annoyed with how we conceded the goals but very pleased with the way that we passed the ball and I won’t ask them to do anything else.”

See Wednesday's Gazette for a full match report and pictures from the U’s defeat to Notts County.