COLCHESTER United have been slammed by Southend United boss Phil Brown for their ‘disgraceful’ celebrations, following the U's win in the Essex derby.

Goals from Mike Folivi and Harry Pell secured the U's a vital win which boosted their hopes of staying up and left Blues staring relegation from League Two in the face.

Colchester are now nine points above the drop zone - and their county neighbours - with three games remaining.

But Brown was unhappy with the way the U's behaved.

Brown told the Southend Echo: “I was disappointed in our local neighbours.

“OK they survived, well played.

“They’ve put nine points between us and them but to celebrate in the manner they did was disgraceful.

“You would think they had won the title.

“They’re third or fourth bottom in the table.

“I hate it when average players become great players overnight because they’ve been beaten us in a game of football.”

Southend had to play for much of the second half with only ten men, after Jason Demetriou was shown a straight red card for a foul on U's skipper Harry Pell.

But Brown was also disappointed Colchester sought retrospective punishment against a Southend player, believed to be former U's defender John White, following a second-half incident.

 

“To duck out of challenges, dive down, pretend your injured and try to go for retrospective punishment is absolute rubbish,” said Brown.

“You can tell our neighbours that I hope they hear what I’m saying too.”

Gazette:

Colchester skipper Harry Pell has responded on Brown's comments, on social media.

Writing on his Twitter account the midfielder, who scored the U's second goal against Southend and was also the victim of Jason Demetriou's red-card tackle, said: "Firstly, I actually agree with your comments regarding us being near the bottom isn't good enough...I can assure you the only celebration was celebrating getting one over on our rivals. (We still need points).

"Secondly, The games started as soon as you and your staff put the message up on the outside of your changing room door towards me and my team...

"Thirdly, at least name me...can deal with you calling me average, but please don't hurt me and say I "ducked" out of any tackle...The red card was an awful tackle, so was the incident that your referring to..

"Good luck for the rest of the season Pelle."