Colchester United head coach John McGreal apologised to the club's travelling fans following his side's disappointing 2-1 defeat at ten man Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

The U's suffered a second successive defeat in League Two and remain three points off the play-off places after losing to ten-man Stanley, at the Wham Stadium.

Stanley led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Billy Kee and Matty Pearson but were reduced to ten men when defender Omar Beckles was sent off just before half-time.

And although substitute Chris Porter got Colchester back into the game from the penalty spot, it was not enough for them to salvage a point.

McGreal said: “The fans have travelled a long way to see a performance and we didn’t give that too them in the first half, so I can only apologise for that.

“Late on, we could have nicked a point and there were some unbelievable balls flashing across the box that we weren’t on the end of.

“We had a little bit of a go against their ten men in the second half but it was really disappointing and I can only apologise for what’s happened to the fans.

“Even when the players were going off they kept backing them and we’re grateful for that.

"Hopefully we can give them something to sing about on Tuesday.

"We started quite well but then we just let things happen in and around us and we had no intent with our basic defensive play, which was really disappointing.

"It's all to play for, we have to realise that and you have to go with a purpose and an intent."