Sammie Szmodics' late goal proved only a consolation as Colchester United were beaten 3-1 at old foes Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon.

The U's suffered back-to-back League Two defeats for the first time since September and are now without a win in their last four matches, after losing out to the Chairboys, at Adams Park.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made three changes to his starting line-up for their trip to play Wycombe Wanderers.

Ryan Inniss returned to the U’s side for the first time since December 9 after recovering from a shoulder injury, while Sean Murray and Szmodics were also recalled to the team, as Colchester lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Tom Lapslie dropped to the bench where he was joined by club captain Luke Prosser, who returned to the Colchester 18 for the first time since November, 2016.

Courtney Senior was also among the substitutes but Kane Vincent-Young dropped out due to a hamstring injury.

Colchester made the brighter start of the two sides and almost took a seventh-minute lead when Kurtis Guthrie met Tom Eastman’s curling cross into the area with a firm header that was well saved by keeper Scott Brown.

Mikael Mandron headed Ryan Jackson’s long throw over under pressure but the Chairboys begun to warm to the task, after that.

Wycombe skipper Matt Bloomfield fired over under pressure in the area from a difficult angle after Paris Cowan-Hall had helped on Ade Akinfenwa’s flick header, before the hosts made the breakthrough in the 14th minute.

Akinfenwa stooped to head past U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker from close range, after Craig Mackail-Smith had curled a delightful ball into the area.

Colchester almost equalised three minutes later when Ryan Inniss’s header was eventually palmed around the post by Brown when it looked like it was creeping in, after Jackson’s throw had caused problems in the area.

But Colchester found themselves further behind in the 24th minute.

Joe Jacobson's corner was not dealt with by the U's and after Mackail-Smith had headed the ball on, Cowan-Hall stabbed home from close range.

Colchester were left wondering how they trailed by two goals and felt they should have had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 27th minute when Mandron went down under Nathan McGinley’s challenge in the area after Tom Eastman had headed the ball on.

But despite Colchester’s howls of protest, referee John Busby ignored their penalty shouts.

Szmodics fired wide twice in quick succession in the final minutes of the first half, as the U’s went in at the break with a mountain to climb in the second period.

Drey Wright’s low shot sailed wide in the opening minutes after the interval and Colchester came even closer to reducing the deficit midway through the second half when Mandron’s fierce shot from the edge of the area was brilliantly palmed away by Brown.

Kent’s goalbound effort was deflected wide for a corner when it looked like a certain goal soon after, as the U's pressed.

But Wycombe still looked menacing and Walker palmed away Saunders’ low shot and Frankie Kent headed away from under his own crossbar, after Walker had foiled the outstanding Tafari Moore.

But Colchester fell further behind with 15 minutes remaining when Luke O'Nien picked up possession 20 yards out and let fly with a superb left-foot shot that left Walker with no chance.

Prosser came on for his first appearance since November 2016 and Senior was also sent on off the bench but it was hard to see a way back for the U's after the hosts scored their third.

Szmodics gave them hope with 12 minutes remaining when he drove a low shot through a crowded area and past Brown for his 13th goal of the season.

But despite six minutes of stoppage-time being added at the end, the U's were unable to avoid defeat.