Colchester United's poor form continues after Bury defeat

Dom Telford struck twice in the second half for the Shakers to condemn the U's to a fifth defeat in six matches, in League Two.

The defeat at Gigg Lane leaves Colchester five points off the play-offs with four games remaining.

McGreal said: “We came off at half-time feeling that we had one of the best halves of football, this year against one of the best teams in this division.

“They have quality players but tactically, the game was not lost - it was lost by mistakes again.

“We nullified everything and they haven’t had a shot in the first half.

“We have started particularly well in the first half and we got into some good goalscoring opportunities.

“We just feel as though it’s when we’re getting into that 18-yard box at the minute and it’s a lack of confidence.

“It’s difficult to explain because I’m not in that position – you can only ask the players when they are in that position.

“We're getting the final third entries and we were hoping to get a goal to get that lead that we haven’t had of late.

“But they changed the game on its head and it was poor defensive mistakes by us.

"For the first goal, we were clearing our lines and the ball comes in, we haven't got the first contact, Rene (Gilmartin) comes chasing it, it's gone over him and the lad's hit it on the line.

"For the second goal, Frankie (Kent) has missed the header, it comes out wide, Kane (Vincent-Young) loses it and it goes to the lad who crosses it and they get on the end of the cross.

"It's difficult to take, especially as it's happening week after week.

"We know that the boys are going to make mistakes because that's part and parcel of being a defender but it's been hurting us, of late."

Colchester's play-off hopes are now slim following another defeat but McGreal insists he is not giving up.

He added: "I've said from the start that as long as I'm here and I've got a breath, we'll keep going.

"We've still got four games to go and we'll keep going."