Colchester United manager Kevin Keen admits it will be "very difficult" for his side to avoid relegation after they drew 1-1 with bottom club Crewe Alexandra tonight.

The U's looked like they were heading for a vital victory after George Moncur fired them ahead from the penalty spot with 25 minutes remaining, at Gresty Road.

But Callum Saunders headed in a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Colchester victory and leave them eight points adrift of safety in League One, with just three games remaining.

Keen said: "It was a tough evening, because it was a game we should be winning 1-0 and clawing back a couple of points and now it's going to be very, very difficult for us.

"It's really disappointing for the club and for the fans that we didn't manage to hang on.

"Once you've gone in front, you've got to see that out on a night like tonight and a pitch like tonight when it means so much.

"I thought it was an average game on an average pitch and it's the sort of game you have to win 1-0, especially when you're ahead.

"You have to see it out especially on a night like tonight when it means so much.

"I thought we tried to do the right things in the first half and it was difficult to break them down."