Colchester United head coach John McGreal was critical of referee Brendan Malone for failing to send off striker Shola Ameobi after the U's were beaten 3-1 by Notts County this afternoon.

McGreal felt Ameobi should have been dismissed following an alleged off-the-ball elbow on U's captain Luke Prosser in the closing stages of the first half, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Ameobi was not cautioned for the alleged incident, which happened when Colchester were leading 1-0.

And after the Magpies roared back in the second half to claim all three points - with Ameobi scoring one of their three goals after the break - boss McGreal felt referee Malone should have taken action.

McGreal said: “Decisions by referees have really killed us, this season.

“If you look at the triangle of officials (with the Shola Ameobi-Luke Prosser incident) they’re in great positions.

“The referee was in the perfect position but chose not to see it.

“I’ve spoken to him and he said he hasn’t seen it.

“I think that’s one of the reasons why he’s only played five games, this year.

“To come in for a high-class level, top of the table-ish game with both teams with a lot to play for - we get a referee that’s only refereed five games, this season.

“I think he’ll look at it and be disappointed he’s missed one, because it was right in front of him."

Drey Wright gave Colchester a tenth-minute lead and the hosts dominated the first half.

But after Tom Eastman's header had hit a post early in the second half, goals from Jonathan Forte, Ameobi and Richard Duffy condemned the U's to defeat, leaving them six points off the League Two play-off places with three games remaining.

“We dominated large chunks of the game, especially the first hour," added McGreal.

“They’ve had three shots on target I think and scored three goals.

“We’ve had around 14-16 shots and it’s the same targets that we’re hitting every week and same style of football with plenty of pace and width.

“But we only have two players who have hit double figures this year and that proves it – we haven’t been good enough in that area.

“We scored a fantastic goal but we need that experience in and around the right end of the pitch.

“We knew about their directness and combated it.

“There’s the possibility of a slight foul for their equaliser so it’s one where decisions today haven’t gone for us.

“Some of our football was fantastic and we’re not going to come away from that.

“That’s our philosophy here and the boys have earned the plaudits for that but we haven’t won the game."