Colchester United manager Joe Dunne admits the decision to reject their appeal against skipper Magnus Okuonghae's red card against Charlton Athletic has left him bitterly disappointed.

The U's failed in their bid to overturn Okuonghae's one-match suspension, which he will serve after being sent off for deliberate handball in their Capital One Cup defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic, on Tuesday night.

Colchester felt they had a strong case for the red card to be overturned, after gathering footage showing the ball hitting Okuonghae on the ribs.

However, their appeal was turned down and the U's skipper will now serve a one-match ban, meaning he will miss their game at Bristol City this weekend.

Dunne said: “We feel bitterly disappointed and bitterly let down by the system."

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including a three-page preview of the U's game against Bristol City, see Friday's Daily Gazette.