COLCHESTER United interim head coach Wayne Brown was left ‘disappointed and frustrated’ that his side were unable to capitalise on any of their chances after losing 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers.

The U’s were beaten by the League Two leaders in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 at the JobServe Community Stadium, as the club staged its Game for Ukraine.

Matty Stevens’ ninth-minute header proved enough to condemn Colchester to a second straight 1-0 defeat against a promotion contender.

And although Brown was pleased with his side’s showing against the title favourites, the U’s interim boss was disappointed they were unable to make their opportunities count.

Brown said: “We’re disappointed and frustrated.

“I thought we did particularly well and played off a solid shape and I thought we were very hard to break down.

“We frustrated them at times; yes, they had more ball than us but that was always going to be the case.

“We showed them respect but we also created a number of clearcut opportunities, especially in the first half.

“If I’m critical, then that’s what has let us down – not putting those chances away when they’ve come along because I thought the lads were great in their structure and their solidarity, as a group.

Gazette:

“The top teams in the division are clinical and they’re at the top for a reason.

“That’s what it takes – one lapse in concentration and one chance and they put it away.

“It’s probably why we’re fighting to stay in the division.

“We do create and play well and move the ball well but just lack that little bit of belief and confidence, in front of goal.”

Forest Green scored their winner when Stevens was allowed time and space to nod in from Dan Sweeney’s cross from the right.

It was a disappointing goal for Colchester to concede but boss Brown refused to apportion blame to individuals.

“It’s not about Tom Eastman, it’s not about Sham (George),” he said.

“It’s a collective effort.

Gazette:

“There’s a lot that has happened before the ball came into the box and you can pick the bones out of any goal and say ‘he didn’t do this and he didn’t do that’ but that’s not what we’re about.

“We’re in this together and we’ve had a number of good opportunities.

“After a tough setback after ten minutes, the lads didn’t show any disappointment.

“They went again and they created and created and created and just couldn’t put the ball away.

“For me sitting here as a manager with no points on the board after creating as many chances as we did is obviously disappointing and frustrating.”

Colchester trailed for the majority of the match but came desperately close to equalising when substitute Junior Tchamadeu’s low strike came back of a post, in the final stages.

Brown said: “We’ve asked people to go on and be effective in the opposition box and Junior (Tchamadeu) was.

“He hit the post and he was nice and positive.

“I’m pleased with everyone who was out there and the way that they went about their business – I’m just disappointed with the lack of conversion of the chances that we had.

Gazette:

“We’ve created loads of chances like we did against Bristol Rovers and not taken them – yes we know, but they will come.

“Chances will keep being created because of the way that we’re playing and it’s just a case of keeping the belief in house and externally to make sure we’ve got the points on the board.”

Colchester wore a special kit in the colours of Ukraine for the match, with their one-off shirts to be auctioned off to raise more money for the British Red Cross’s humanitarian fund for the people of Ukraine.

U’s chairman Robbie Cowling reduced every ticket for the game to £10, with every penny going towards helping Ukrainian refugees.

Brown added: “It was a fantastic gesture by the chairman.

“The amount of money that we can now send over there to help families and Ukrainian surrounding countries will make a difference.

“I’d just like to thank the chairman for the gesture but everyone that’s come out tonight.

“It’s meant a lot for us as a club for the fans to get behind the team but also to get behind the Ukraine.

“We all live in our little bubble, me especially but there’s a bigger picture here and the amount of money that we can send over there is going to make a massive difference and it’s credit to Robbie Cowling for doing that.”