COLCHESTER United's under-23s will be looking to get back to winning ways tonight, after defeat at Sheffield United.

Wayne Brown's side travel to take on the Trotters (kick-off 7pm) in Professional Development League Two, on the back of a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Blades despite Tarryn Allarakhia's late consolation.

Wayne Brown's went into their game against the Blades at the Shirecliffe ground on the back of two straight wins.

They competed well in what was an evenly-contested first half and did well to hold out until seconds before half-time when Sheffield United took the lead.

Harvey Gilmour picked the ball up and drove in a shot from 20 yards, to leave Colchester trailing.

The hosts had further chances after that, with Simeon Oure and Tyler Smith both going close.

And the U's conceded again four minutes into the second half, as the hosts dominated the play.

Jordan Doherty played a ball in behind the visitors’ defence for Smith to go past U’s keeper Dominic Kurasik, before putting the ball into the net.

As the hosts began to dominate, Smith went close and substitute Kelly also went close, while Potts fired his effort over the bar.

Colchester rarely threatened until they won a late penalty which was put away by Allarakhia, following William Portman's handball but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

Colchester United U23: Dominic Kurasik, Will Wright, Al-Amin Kazeem, Paul Rooney, Chris Forino, Noah Chilvers, Callum Anderson, Sam Warde, Ollie Sims, Ryan Gondoh, Tariq Issa. Substitutes: Tarryn Allarakhia, Callum Jones, Ollie Kensdale, Callum Coulter.

n Colchester's under-18s were beaten 4-2 at Hull City, in their latest Professional Development League Two.

It was a very young U's under-18s squad that travelled to Humberside to face the Tigers at the Bishop Burton ground.

It included just three first-year scholars, along with five under-15 players.

One of the squad's younger players, Tom Stagg, scored for Colchester in the first half where they trailed 2-1, with central defender Billy Cracknell scoring an own goal.

At one stage in the second half, the U's were only 3-2 down after Reuben Mudd netted.

But Hull scored again before the end, with goals from Max Sheaf, Ahmed Salam, Billy Chadwick adding to Cracknell's own goal.

Colchester United U18: Chandler Hallett, Kieran Michaels, Billy Cracknell, Josh Fouche, Harvey Sayer (sub Todd Miller), Sam Cornish, Max Maughn, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia (sub Alejandro Patino), Reuben Mudd, Tom Stagg (sub Matty Tricker), Andre Hasanally.