COLCHESTER United assistant manager Alex Dyer was disappointed they were unable to claim at least a point from their game against Crawley Town this afternoon.

The U's crashed to a 1-0 defeat at home to Crawley Town, extending their wait for a victory at the JobServe Community Stadium this season.

Dyer took charge of Colchester in the absence of boss Hayden Mullins, who missed the game due to illness.

And while he admits the U's lacked 'a bit of spark' to get back into the game after falling behind to Jack Payne's first-half strike, he felt a draw would have been a fairer outcome.

Dyer said: "I think we deserved something out of the game.

"I'm not saying we did enough to win it but we definitely did enough to get a point, so we're disappointed.

“We started the game very well then they scored and they dominated a little bit and we’re scratching around to find our feet.

“We had to take stock and regroup which we tried to do and created a couple of chances, in the second half but it was not to be.

“We came in at half-time and tried to regroup and press again in the second half but lacked that little bit of spark that we needed, to get something out of the game.

“We had good chances but when you don’t score, you think mentally that it might not be your day.

“It wasn’t to be; it wasn’t through lack of effort – it was just that we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

"They had their chances, too. We made some excellent blocks and the keeper has made a couple of really good saves.

"It wasn't the way we wanted it to be but we have to go again.

"We've been better on our travels - at home, the onus is on you to score and they did a little number on us.

"The onus is on the home team to go ahead and try and be on the front foot but it's easier for the away team to sit in a bit."

Crawley's winner came midway through the first half when Payne struck home from the edge of the area, after Will Ferry had got the better of Charlie Daniels and picked out his team-mate.

Dyer said: "Charlie was a bit unlucky - it was a 50-50 and it could have gone either way and their boy came out on top.

"That happens every game; sometimes you get away with it and we didn't today."

Dyer was assisted by academy boss Dave Huzzey and performance director Jon De Souza in the technical area against Crawley, in the absence of Mullins.

The U's coaches had input from Mullins throughout the match through a headset.

Dyer added: “I spoke to the gaffer this morning.

"He watched the game and he was giving his pointers while the game was on – hopefully he’ll be back very soon.

"He's not been diagnosed with Covid - he was ill and obviously these days when you're ill, everyone thinks it's Covid.

"They forget that there is flu and other bits and bobs around.

"We don't take any chances and Smudger (goalkeeper coach Darren Smith) didn't feel too well either.

"It was best for them to keep away from all the rest of the lads.

"I could get information from the gaffer and if he wanted me to do something, I did it."