KARL Duguid was left feeling “absolutely gutted” by his side's late capitulation in Saturday's memorable Championship encounter at The Hawthorns.Duguid was on the verge of leading his team to a famous win, until last-gasp goals from James Morrison and Roman Bednar transformed a 3-2 victory into a 4-3 defeat.

Carl Marston

KARL Duguid was left feeling “absolutely gutted” by his side's late capitulation in Saturday's memorable Championship encounter at The Hawthorns.

Duguid was on the verge of leading his team to a famous win, until last-gasp goals from James Morrison and Roman Bednar transformed a 3-2 victory into a 4-3 defeat.

“It's a terrible game to lose. It's unbelievable. We have scored three goals at West Brom, who are the best footballing side in the division, and yet we've lost!” said a stunned Duguid.

“That's the best we have defended as a unit for about 42 minutes (in the second-half before West Brom's third goal), but they ended up punishing us, like they have so many other teams this season.

“We put so much work into that game. We worked so hard to defend, and yet we've still conceded four goals! That just about sums up our season.

“It was a great game for the neutral, and it didn't look like a game between sides at the top and bottom of the division.

“Once we went 3-2 up, I thought we looked very comfortable. That's why we are all absolutely gutted. We never deserved to get anything at Norwich (a 5-1 defeat), but it's difficult to be critical about our performance today, even though we have to be critical,” added Duguid.

Right winger Duguid, the U's longest-serving player, had words of praise for two of the club's newer recruits, ex-Luton defender Chris Coyne and teenager Medy Elito. They both scored their first goals in a Colchester shirt. “It was a great overhead kick from Chris (Coyne). He's a mad-man, because he could have broken his neck,” continued Duguid.

“And it was one hell of a finish from Medy (Elito). He had an earlier chance, that didn't sit up for him, and I thought that might happen again. But he found the top corner with a great finish.

“We played with pride, and our pride is still in tact. That's a massive part of being at Colchester.

“We are all proud to play for the club. There was plenty of passion on display out there,” concluded Duguid.