COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd says his side will learn from their second half collapse at Oldham.The U's, having led 2-0, folded after the 55th minute dismissal of Marc Tierney and ended up drawing the game 2-2.

Stuart Watson

COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd says his side will learn from their second half collapse at Oldham.

The U's, having led 2-0, folded after the 55th minute dismissal of Marc Tierney and ended up drawing the game 2-2.

Colchester have now taken just two points from their last three league games, but Boothroyd is choosing to focus on the positives.

He said: “I think in every season there are defining moments that improve you for later on.

“We lost our discipline, had a player sent off and didn't cope with the changes very well - but we still got a point.

“Good teams pick up points no matter how they play. I'd have preferred three points but it wasn't to be.

“Results like this are always disappointing when you go two up, but fair play to Oldham. We will have to take this on the chin and move on.”

Reacting to Tierney's game-changing dismissal, Boothroyd said: “He's kicked the ball away and you can't do that. He's annoyed with himself because he knows he's let himself down.”

Kevin Lisbie - back in the side following a two game absence through injury and illness - was the man to be sacrificed following the red card.

The frustrated striker-turned-winger shrugged off his manager when withdrawn from the action, but Boothroyd defended his player.

He said: “No player wants to get brought off. I used to get it more than most as a player and I didn't like it either.

“Kevin has only trained twice in two weeks and I just thought it was right to make sure that he is fit and fighting for Tuesday.”