Colchester United were thrashed 6-0 at MK Dons this afternoon to slump to a fourth successive league defeat.

The U’s had no answer to a slick and confident Dons side at stadiummk and finished the contest with ten men, after loanee Will Packwood was sent off on his Colchester debut.

The U’s were second best in all areas and although their heaviest defeat of the season came against a side who look a good bet for promotion, this was a worrying setback for Colchester who remain in the bottom four.

Colchester boss Tony Humes made three changes to his starting line-up, with Packwood, Elliott Hewitt and Rhys Healey coming into the side.

Magnus Okuonghae, ruled out for several months with a ruptured Achilles tendon, dropped out along with George Moncur and Sean Clohessy, who was not even included in the 18 Colchester knew it would be a tough task to get anything from an MK Dons side who started the day in fourth place and had lost only once at home all season.

But the U’s almost took a fourth-minute lead when Kyle McFadzean’s sliced attempted clearance from Hewitt’s driven cross into the area came back off the outside of a post.

It was a rare moment of attacking intent from the U’s, though.

U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker made a fine save to push McFadzean’s header away for a corner before MK Dons took an 11th minute lead.

Dele Alli advanced towards goal before planting a shot past Walker’s outstretched right hand from 25 yards.

The U’s struggled to make an impression on the contest in the first half and went further behind, eight minutes before the break.

Afobe latched onto Carl Baker’s defence-splitting pass and took his time before slotting past Walker at his near post.

And it was 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when Afobe followed in to head home, after Walker had saved Baker’s shot.

Colchester had it all to do in the second half and almost went 4-0 behind soon after the break when McFadzean’s prodded shot from a corner came back off the near post.

But although Freddie Sears’ shot was saved by Dons keeper, the home side did eventually score a fourth just before the hour through Afobe, who completed his hat-trick when he shrugged off Packwood and slotted a low shot past Walker.

Things got even worse for Colchester just after the midway point in the second half.

Afobe bustled his way into the area and Packwood hauled him down, giving away a penalty and receiving his marching orders on his debut.

Ben Reeves slotted home the resultant spot-kick and the U’s were forced to play the final 20 minutes or so with only ten men, resulting in boss Tony Humes sending on centre-back Jamie Harney for his professional debut.

Fellow U’s substitute Craig Eastmond headed Tom Flanagan’s effort off the line before full-back Lee Hodson added a fine sixth goal for the Dons late on, as the U's suffered a humiliating defeat.

For five pages of coverage of the U’s game with MK Dons, see Monday’s Daily Gazette.