COLCHESTER United caretaker boss Joe Dunne bemoaned his side's bad luck as they narrowly lost 2-1 at home against in-form Leeds United.

Stuart Watson

COLCHESTER United caretaker boss Joe Dunne bemoaned his side's bad luck as they narrowly lost 2-1 at home against in-form Leeds United.

The visitors opener came from a questionable free-kick, while the winner arrived when a deflection in the box fell straight at the feet of on-fire Jermain Beckford.

Dunne, who is likely to take charge of Tuesday night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy against Gillingham before being replaced by a new manager ahead of next Saturday's league match at Southampton, said: "The extreme pressure we have come under in the last couple of weeks has taken its toll in the last two games. I have no criticism of the players though, they have been phenomenal.

"Unfortunately we just came up short today. We're talking inches and millimetres in the last couple of games but I'm pretty confident we can turn the corner.

"The games are coming think and fast and the pressure is on. I'm desperately disappointed for the players today because I honestly thought we could win. It's been an emotional day for everybody and the fans have once supported us really well.

"I thought we acquitted ourselves well overall. Apart from the first 15 minutes I thought we coped.

"In the last two weeks it has been 2-1 and it hasn't quite broken for us. We probably deserved something from both games but hard luck stories are ten a penny in this game aren't they?

"We seem to be in an unlucky vein of form but that will change at some stage this season I am sure.

"Ultimately it's a crazy goal that keeps Leeds top-of-the-table."