Colchester United boss, Tony Humes, did not emerge from the home dressing room until 45 minutes after the final whistle of this afternoon’s depressing 4-1 defeat to Rochdale.

The U’s had lost 6-0 at MK Dons in their previous league match, and they fared little better against Dale, conceding three goals during a dismal 14-minute spell in the first half.

Goals from Matt Lund, Peter Vincenti and Ian Henderson (penalty) put the visitors 3-0 up. Gavin Massey pulled one back for the U’s on 50 minutes, only for defender Jack O’Connell to restore Dale’s three-goal lead just five minutes later.

“It was poor, very, very poor,” confessed Humes.

“There will have to be an awful amount of analysis of players, looking at their own performances, and how much they actually wanted to be out there.

“And that is a very, very sad thing to say.

“I have to question their desire. For Rochdale’s first three goals, there were players free to tap the ball into an empty net, because players had not done their job, and haven’t taken the responsibility to do their job.

“It was all far too easy (for Rochdale), far to easy.

“So I am questioning their desire, I’m questioning their application, their attitude to hard work, and do they actually know their job?” added Humes.