Colchester United were beaten by Spurs U21 in EFL Trophy

That action alone seemed to sum up the U’s night.

It might have only been the EFL Trophy and this was a much-changed Colchester side, sporting 11 changes.

But frankly, they could have well done without this 5-0 defeat.

READ MORE: Colchester 0 Spurs under-21 5 - reaction from Scott Marshall

It was the U's heaviest home loss since they were thrashed 6-1 at home by Stevenage in a League One clash back in December, 2011.

There is no real shame in Colchester’s much-changed side being taught a footballing lesson by Spurs’ talented under-21s.

The U's were simply unable to deal with the visitors' craft and movement, particularly in the second half with former Colchester Villa youngster Jamie Donley leading the way.

As Colchester assistant head coach Scott Marshall said after the game, many of Tottenham’s team that were on show on Tuesday night have genuine Premier League aspirations; others, like Ashley Phillips, have already gained plenty of experience playing in the Championship.

Let’s not kid ourselves; this Spurs squad, as young as it may be, nonetheless contained millions of pounds worth of academy talent.

READ MORE: Colchester's youngsters put to the sword by slick Spurs under-21s

At 1-0, Colchester were still in the tie and had skipper-for-the-night Tom Hopper’s header crossed the goal-lines and not been scooped away, with a little help from the woodwork, in the closing stages of the first half, things might have been different.

But Spurs’ youngsters, who unlike their much-changed hosts have gathered some momentum of late and are used to playing in the same team having won their opening four league games, were devastating in the second half.

They were clinical in front of goal, scoring four times in the space of 20 minutes.

Quite frankly, by the end, it could have been many more.

As a player, it is perhaps more difficult when you are asked to play in a team with so many changes, when no rhythm or coherence has been built.

Garner will have perhaps learnt things about certain individuals and there were some aspects from what happened that will aid him, going forward.

READ MORE: Colchester United 0 Spurs U21 5 - as it happened

Recently-signed midfielder Jay Mingi got an hour under his belt and looked sharp in the first half and Hopper also got some valuable minutes in the bank, after making his first U’s start for more than a month.

Chay Cooper impressed when he came on in a left-sided attacking role but there were few other positives, for the U’s.

Youngsters Ronny Nelson and Donell Thomas were making their first-ever competitive starts for the U’s, while Tom Smith, Matt Jay and Harry Beadle had not started a game for Colchester all season.

But in truth, the U’s head coach could have done without a heavy home defeat, given the momentum his side had been building following two encouraging performances at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Garner wanted the players he selected against Spurs to stake a claim for his starting line-up. Sadly, they did anything but.

READ MORE: 'I don't agree with the format...but EFL Trophy does have it's place'

Not that this EFL Trophy setback will necessarily halt that momentum.

It doesn’t take a genius to predict that the side that starts Colchester’s League Two clash at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday will be a completely different XI to the one that kicked off against Spurs.

The U’s must quickly dust themselves down and quickly move on from last night’s rather humbling experience and return to the kind of performance they have shown they are capable of, in League Two.