Brighton & Hove Albion 4 Colchester United 0

Colchester United conceded three goals in a hectic 10-minute period, midway through the second half, to bow out of the League Cup at Brighton tonight.

The League Two U’s held their own for more than an hour, at the Seagulls’ impressive Amex Stadium.

But John McGreal’s men were then blown away by quickfire goals from Sam Baldock (64 minutes), Jamie Murphy (70) and Elvis Manu (74).

Man-of-the-match Kazenga Lua Lua, the brother of former U’s star Lomana Lua Lu, was the inspiration behind Baldock’s classy opener.

Lua Lua controlled a long diagonal pass with precision, trapping the ball dead, and the left winger took his time before picking out Baldock, who struck home a first-time shot into the roof of the het from 16 yards out.

Lua Lua was also behind Brighton’s killer second goal. He teed up Murphy, who gleefully tucked home past an exposed Dillon Barnes.

And the Seagulls added a third just four minutes later. Baldock exploited acres of space down the left before crossing low for Manu to divert home from close in.

Championship side Brighton could have added several more to their tally late on, and Barnes did well to complete a double save, thwarting Lua Lua and Danny Holla in quick succession.

Murphy did grab a fourth with his second of the evening in the 86th minute, directing his low shot beyond Barnes.

There had been very little goalmouth action in a subdued first half, although Sammie Szmodics could have broken the deadlock with a header that flew wide from Brennan Dickenson’s cross on the half-hour mark.

The U’s could be happy with their performance, up to the hour mark, but they were completely out-classed during the final quarter of the game.

COLCHESTER: Barnes, Wynter, Prosser, Kent, Vincent-Young, Lapslie (sub Dunne, 75), Loft, Guthrie (sub Slater, 75), Szmodics (sub Bonne, 71), Dickenson, Johnstone. Unused subs: Bransgrove, Porter, Sembie-Ferris, Kinsella.

Referee: James Linnington (Isle of Wight)

Attendance: 6,895 (261 away)