Colchester United fell to a second successive defeat in League Two after losing 2-1 at ten-man Accrington Stanley.

The U's found themselves 2-0 down after little more than half an hour at the Wham Stadium following goals from Billy Kee and Matty Pearson.

Stanley were reduced to ten men just before half-time when their defender Omar Beckles was sent off.

But although substitute Chris Porter pulled a goal back for Colchester from the penalty spot with 14 minutes remaining, it was not enough to salvage a point for the visitors.

Colchester head coach John McGreal made two changes to his starting line-up for their game at Accrington Stanley.

Craig Slater was back in the team after missing the Crawley Town defeat with a groin problem, while Kane Vincent-Young also returned at right-back.

Matt Briggs and Tarique Fosu dropped to the bench while also among the U’s substitutes was Drey Wright, who returned to the fray less than four weeks after undergoing hernia surgery.

Porter was also deemed fit enough to be on the bench but Colchester were still without a host of first-team regulars including Frankie Kent, Tom Eastman and Sammie Szmodics due to injury, while midfielder Sean Murray completed a three-match ban.

Colchester started brightly but Accrington gradually warmed to the task and Jordan Clark slashed wastefully wide at the second attempt early on for the hosts.

And Stanley took an 18th-minute lead through the unmarked Kee, who headed in following Sean McConville’s accurate ball into the area.

Craig Slater fired wastefully over the bar soon after and Stanley keeper Marek Rodak pushed away Owen Garvan’s free-kick which had missed everyone in the area.

But Colchester suffered yet another injury blow when Denny Johnstone was stretchered off with a leg injury and replaced up front by Porter.

The U's were rarely seen as an attacking force in the first half and after keeper Sam Walker had pushed away Shay McCartan’s 20-yard free-kick, from McConville’s resultant corner defender Pearson netted with a bullet header at the far post, just after the half hour.

Colchester were given a glimmer of hope just before half-time when Stanley were reduced to ten men after defender Beckles was dismissed for a foul on Brennan Dickenson just inside the hosts’ half.

U's boss McGreal made a double change at the break, sending on Briggs and Wright for Tom Lapslie and Richard Brindley in a bid to get back into the game.

The second half started in feisty fashion, with some tough challenges going in from both sides  as a midfield battle ensued.

And Colchester almost found themselves further behind on the hour when McCartan wastefully slotted wide with only Walker to beat, after Wynter had fouled Kee in the build-up to the chance and referee Richard Clark had played a good advantage.

But the U's halved the deficit with 14 minutes remaining through substitute Porter, who scored from the spot after McConville had fouled Wright in the area following Owen Garvan's fine pass.

They almost forced an equalised six minutes later when George Elokobi's overhead kick from a corner appeared to hit Porter on the line and sail over the bar while Slater's curled effort was well saved by Rodak, as the visitors pressed.

Guthrie's glancing header flashed inches wide from Briggs' cross as the clock ticked down but the U's could not force an equaliser.