Joe Dunne believes Colchester United will be a threat in League Two after seeing his Cambridge United side beaten at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The U’s ran out 3-0 winners, thanks to goals from Sammie Szmodics, Frank Nouble and Courtney Senior.

It moved John McGreal’s side up to fourth in the table but left Dunne’s Cambridge side sixth from bottom.

Dunne, who managed Colchester between 2012 and 2014 having had two spells with the club as a player, got a great reception from the home fans before the game but ended up on the losing side.

Former Colchester boss Dunne said: “Look at the quality they’ve got in the team and the players they can bring on.

“It makes a big difference and that’s why they’re (near) the top of the league and unfortunately, that’s why we’re down the bottom.

“Nouble and Norris are a handful every week they play.

“Colchester have got some good players as long as they stay fit, they’re going to be a threat and that’s why they are where they are.

“We have quality too but we have to take our chances when they come.

“Goals change the context of the game and it certainly did, because in the first half I didn’t think there was too much between the two teams.

“We held our own very well and probably created as many chances as they did but the difference is, just look at their forwards.”

Despite the scoreline, Cambridge had plenty of chances to score at Colchester.

They had two efforts cleared off the line by Brennan Dickenson and were also denied by U’s keeper Dillon Barnes on several occasions.

“The game was lost in both boxes,” added Dunne.

“It’s a recurring thing – I believe if you’re positive you can get through it but unfortunately, we getting the same errors and the same mistakes.

“At the moment, it’s symptomatic of a team that’s down the bottom of the league at the moment.

“We have to believe we’ll get out of it but we have to be more ruthless.

“Both of their first-half goals were scored when probably we were on top.

“We had one cleared off the line from a set play and then they went and got a goal.

“We had one great chance to make it 1-1 and they went on the break and got a goal.

“But irrespective of whether we’re playing well or missing chances, we just can’t getting beat every week.”