I'VE always loved the quote that 'statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive but what they conceal is vital'.

Partly because it mentions bikinis.

Mainly, however, because it's so true.

Take Saturday's match between Colchester and Cambridge.

The statistics tell you one thing but the scoreline quite another.

The U's (as in Colchester, not their visitors with the same nickname) had the lion's share of possession, twice as many corners and 15 shots, compared to just six from Colin Calderwood's men.

But for those with a penchant for number-crunching, here are the only digits you need to know. It finished Colchester 1 Cambridge 2.

Inexplicably, despite their utter dominance of the first half, the hosts only managed one goal - and that came from the spot.

Aside from that, they barely troubled goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

In fact, I'm struggling to think of one proper save he had to make.

Everything else was snatched at - rushed, high and wide, although Luke Prosser was unfortunate to head against the bar from Jevani Brown's corner.

It's no wonder the managers cut such different figures after the game.

Calderwood was first to face the media and I loved his brutal honesty, effectively holding his hands aloft and admitting the victory was tantamount to robbery.

He conceded his side were horribly off the boil, fortunate to be in the game at half-time.

No wonder he felt a sense of "genuine happiness" afterwards.

In stark contrast, poor John McGreal looked baffled and bewildered.

Like us, he didn't see the defeat coming and could only watch in despair as attack after attack broke down during a one-sided first period.

Either that or a shot would flash high, wide or a bit of both.

It made for a pretty deflating afternoon, certainly in terms of the two business ends of the pitch.

On this evidence, Colchester play slick football, are easy on the eye and will win friends for their attractive, attacking philosophy.

But flattering, complimentary statistics aren't enough.

The only ones that matter are in the goals for and against columns.