Colchester United manager Tony Humes admitted that individual errors cost his side dear, during today’s 4-2 defeat at Preston North End.

The U’s were level at 2-2 at half-time, thanks to an opening goal from Rhys Healey in the 17th minute and then a wonder strike by Alex Gilbey in the 37th minute. Gilbey was the U’s man-of-the-match.

But Scott Wiseman (21) and Alan Browne (25) capitalised on mistakes by Sanchez Watt and Ben Gordon respectively to score for Preston, before Paul Gallagher (47) and Chris Humphrey (57) found the back of the net in the second period.

Humes said: “Individual mistakes have cost us today.

“People have got to take responsibility and they have got to defend better.

“We played ever so well on the ball, and created lots of chances, but we just didn’t defend well enough.

“It was like we went back to how we were defending in the first few games of the season.

“I would say that three of the four goals were avoidable today.

“I don’t know whether it was down to lapses in concentration, or a lack of belief, but we can’t keep conceding goals like that,” added Humes.

The U’s next game is at home to Gillingham on Tuesday night, in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.