A determined Colchester United were eventually beaten at Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion to bow out of the League Cup at the first-round stage.

The U's were beaten 4-0 at the Amex Stadium, with all four of the home side's goals scored in the final 26 minutes of the game.

Jamie Murphy struck twice and there were also goals from Sam Baldock and Elvis Manu, as Brighton's class eventually told.

Colchester made seven changes to their starting line-up from their game at Hartlepool United.

Goalkeeper Dillon Barnes made his first senior start, Doug Loft and Brennan Dickenson were handed their U's debuts while Denny Johnstone, Alex Wynter and Kane Vincent-Young also started.

Brighton's Kazenga LuaLua, who was impressive throughout, fired into the side netting for the home side early on while Baldock headed straight at Dillon Barnes, making his first-ever senior start for Colchester between the sticks.

Frankie Kent had to take evasive action in the area in order to prevent Manu from turning the ball home and Sam Adekugbe headed over from Oliver Norwood’s corner.

But Colchester missed a great chance to score on the half hour when Brennan Dickenson did well to escape down the left and deliver a pinpoint cross which an unmarked Sammie Szmodics headed wide from a good position.

Barnes had to tip Ben White’s cross over for a corner and Danny Holla’s cheeky lobbed effort from the edge of the area dropped just wide of the near post, for the hosts.

And Brighton almost took the lead three minutes before the break when Oliver Norwood's well-struck shot from the edge of the area flashed dangerously past the far post, seconds after Kent had to clear from near his own goal-line, as the first half finished goal-less.

Brighton began the second half well and Barnes had to be alert in order to stop Murphy’s low effort with his legs, after the winger had run at the U’s defence.

And Brighton made the all-important breakthrough just before the midway point in the second half.

After LuaLua had shown immaculate control from a long pass, he picked out the lurking Baldock who swept home a fine shot past Barnes from the edge of the area to give the hosts the lead.

And Brighton doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining through Murphy, who slotted a shot past Barnes after LuaLua had picked out his clever run.

The tie was over as a contest when Manu converted from Baldock’s assist to make it 3-0, three minutes later.

Barnes makes a good reflex save to deny LuaLua and Holla's follow-up was scrambled away, before Murphy wrapped up Brighton's win late on, as the U's were beaten.

See Wednesday's Gazette for coverage of the U's game with Brighton.