Luke Prosser insists Colchester United's last two results have not reflected their performances following back-to-back defeats in League Two.

The U's were beaten 3-1 by promotion-chasing Notts County at the weekend, a home loss that followed hot on the heels of their 1-0 loss at the hands of leaders Accrington Stanley seven days earlier.

Prosser said: “The last two results have been extremely disappointing. 

"We’ve played some good football in those two games but haven’t had the goals or results that have gone our way."

Colchester had led at the break against Notts County thanks to Drey Wright’s early opener and might have been further ahead at half-time.

Tom Eastman’s header struck a post early in the second half but the Magpies struck back after that to steal the points, thanks to goals from Jonathan Forte, Shola Ameobi and Richard Duffy.

“On another day, we could have been 3-0 up before they even had a chance on our goal," said Prosser.

“The second goal would have killed the game off.

“I thought Tom’s header was in – it took an age and I actually thought it would hit the post and go in.

“On another day, we’re a bit tighter at the back – we defend crosses better and stop them from coming in and we come away with a 1-0 win but they were more ruthless in our box than they were in ours.

“It was sloppy defending but we go again and there’s still three games left.

“For 55 minutes, we were on top and looking comfortable and on another day, had we taken our chances we’d have been 3-0 up and cruising but it wasn’t to be.

“We knew what their game plan would be – they don’t change their style of play.

“We knew they would have long balls into the big strikers but I thought that we dealt with it pretty well and when we did get the ball down and played, we created a few chances.

“But we didn’t get that goal and we got punished at the other end.”

Colchester registered a total of 14 shots on goal over the 90 minutes compared to Notts County’s six.

But John McGreal’s side conceded three times in a game for the first time in three months, to slide to a second successive home loss.

“Defensively, we’ve been so sound but there were areas (against Notts County) where we were sloppy,” said Prosser.

“If we’re more clinical at the other end, you’ll probably win more games than you lose.

“But if you’re a striker, they’ll be saying ‘keep the ball out at the other end’ so it works both ways.”

Prosser was left requiring treatment in the latter stages of the first half following an alleged off-the-ball elbow from Notts County striker Ameobi, an incident that left U’s boss McGreal seething.

The U’s skipper said: “On another day, he (Shola Ameobi) wouldn’t have been on the pitch.

“But that wasn’t the reason why we lost the game.”

Colchester under-23s are in action tonight.

Wayne Brown’s side travel to play Bolton Wanderers’ youngsters in Professional Development League Two, kick-off 7pm.