Colchester United have made their worst league start since 1996 after conceding a late goal to lose 1-0 at Brentford today.

The impressive Farid El Alagui headed in from close range with two minutes to go to give the Bees a narrow win at Griffin Park and leave the U's still searching for their first win in League One, after five games this season.

Brentford started the first half the brighter of the two sides and Toumani Diagouraga went close on two occasions early on, while Clayton Donaldson also spurned a decent opportunity.

The U's were forced to defend in numbers at times and looked vvulnerable at times to the Bees' positive attacking play.

But Colchester had their moments too, with Ian Henderson firing straight at keeper Simon Morgan and then firing wide, soon after.

A similar pattern emerged in the second half and the Bees felt that they should have had a penalty in the minutes that followed the interval when Jonathan Douglas claimed he had been tripped by Anthony Wordsworth in the area.

But the appeals were waved away and the U's almost broke away and scored, with Freddie Sears denied at point-blank range by keeper Moore.

Brentford threatened to grab a winner as the clock ticked down and Farid El Alagui almost pounced on keeper Mark Cousins' poor clearance, only for the U's keeper to make amends with a good save.

But El Alagui headed in from Harry Forrester's cross to bag the Bees' winner and leave Colchester still searching for a win this season.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's game at Brentford, see Monday's Gazette.