It was quite appropriate that the melancholic strains of Morrissey, singing The Smith’s ‘This Charming Man,’ should waft around the Crown Ground on the old-fashioned Tannoy system on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Morrissey’s rather gloomy voice, and at times very bleak outlook on life, can be depressing for some, but uplifting for others.

His moribund tones certainly struck a chord with the half-time musings of the 300-plus U’s fans who had endured the 560-mile round trip from Essex to Lancashire (and then back), to see their team kick off a new season with an under-whelming display and disappointing result.

This is only one game. There are 45 to go in a very long season, and the optimistic signs were there in the second half as the U’s gamely tried to wipe out a 2-0 half-time deficit.

But a combination of very poor defending, and lack-lustre finishing at the other end, ensured that the U’s suffered their first opening day loss for nine years, since a 4-2 hammering at Hartlepool on their return to the third tier following relegation from the Championship in 2008.

- John McGreal on fans’ abuse

Super sub Sammie Szmodics was excellent, during his second-half cameo, and he deserved his late consolation goal, in the same way that debutant Mikael Mandron deserved his assist for that goal, on what was an encouraging performance from the Frenchman up top.

Fellow summer signing, Ryan Jackson, also caught the eye in a wing-back role.

But, alas, there were too many Colchester players off the pace, and out-of-sorts, to avoid a point-less start to the 2017-18 campaign. It was indeed the perfect day to listen to Morrissey.