Colchester United head coach Steve Ball admitted his side's 1-1 draw at Walsall left him feeling a little flat.

The U's took a share of the spoils at the Banks's Stadium, after Callum Harriott's first-half opener was cancelled out by Elijah Adebayo's goal, after half-time.

Colchester are now five games unbeaten in League Two but boss Ball was disappointed his side did not claim the win.

Ball said: "I feel a bit flat after that.

"We showed real bits of quality in the first half and the game plan was really working.

"Walsall are a big strong side and we felt we could move them around, at the back.

"That's what we did for our goal and it was a great goal.

"But I just felt that in the second half, they've come in really high press and in your face and aggressive and I just felt we were a little bit too soon to going in a bit direct.

"I'll look at that and the reasons for that - is it the movement ahead of the ball or the players on the ball making too early decisions, is it a little bit of a panic element where you're under a little bit of pressure which is natural and human instinct.

"But I want us to play out of that little phase in the game and I just felt that in the second half, we invited a bit too much pressure."

Callum Harriott had given Colchester the lead midway through the first half with a well-taken strike.

It was the winger's second goal in as many games, following his penalty against Oldham last weekend.

"We secured the ball in the right area and it was a great goal," said Ball.

"Jevani (Brown) was very unlucky not to score before that with a real bit of quality and that would have put us on the front foot.

"Had we won the game (against Oldham) last week this would have put us on the front foot and a very good point.

"But because of what happened last week, we leave here having been 1-0 up at half-time against a really good strong side and can we see it out?

"We didn't see it out but we're still five games unbeaten in the league and it is a really positive start."