Colchester United suffered a disappointing day in South Wales after falling to defeat at Newport County.

The hosts went above the U's in the League Two table, after second-half goals from Jamille Matt and substitute Cameron Ping left them defeated at Rodney Parade.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made three changes to his starting line-up for their game at Newport County.

Diaz Wright, Luke Prosser and goalkeeper Dillon Barnes all returned to the team following the FA Cup defeat at Accrington Stanley.

Harry Pell missed out due to suspension while Tom Eastman, Luke Norris and Rene Gilmartin were both absent through injury.

Brandon Comley was unavailable due to being on international duty for Montserrat.

Chances were few and far between in a very even first half, where there was little to choose between the two sides.

Colchester were very organised and disciplined and defended well, nullifying the hosts’ threat.

The closest the U’s came to scoring before half-time came in the tenth minute when Frank Nouble, returning to his former club, tried his luck from long-range but saw his shot fly straight at keeper Joe Day.

Colchester started the second half brightly but there was a moment of controversy in the second minute after the break.

The visitors’ bench was left incensed that an advantage was not allowed by referrer Roger East after Brennan Dickenson had been brought down by David Pipe just inside the U's half and Nouble looked like running all the way through on goal.

Padraig Amond’s looping header was plucked out of the air by keeper Barnes soon after but Colchester fell behind in the 54th minute.

Jamille Matt finished at the far post from close range, after Amond had flicked on Matty Dolan's corner into his path.

McGreal made changes after that, sending on Mikael Mandron up front for Brennan Dickenson, with Nouble switching to a left-sided attacking role.

But despite a decent response to going behind, Colchester were left with a mountain to climb midway through the second half when the visitors doubled their lead.

Substitute Cameron Pring raced onto a through ball that split the U's defence and slotted confidently low past Barnes, for 2-0.

Colchester came close to pulling a goal back with 13 minutes remaining when Senior's deflected shot rattled the bar after Ryan Jackson had driven the ball into the box low and hard.

But soon after, Barnes had to make a smart save to push away Semenyo’s low drive after he had got in behind the U’s defence as Newport pushed for more goals.

Nouble almost pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining when Nouble's effort appeared to be heading into the net, only for Amond to get back and clear off the line.

Substitute Ryan Gondoh's long-range effort flew just wide late on but Pring hits the woodwork from close range in stoppage-time for Newport after Mark Harris had done well to set him up as Colchester fell to a fourth straight away defeat, in all competitions.