Plymouth Argyle 4 Colchester United 1WHAT could go wrong, did go wrong, as basement dwellers Colchester United crashed to a heavy defeat at Plymouth last night.

Carl Marston

Plymouth Argyle 4 Colchester United 1

WHAT could go wrong, did go wrong, as basement dwellers Colchester United crashed to a heavy defeat at Plymouth last night.

The U's remain cast adrift at the bottom of the table, and with now only faint hopes of avoiding relegation. Their already-fragile confidence will have taken a real battering after this latest defeat.

Geraint Williams' men were second best for most of the evening, from the moment that Phil Ifil headed Gary Teale's cross past keeper Dean Gerken for an own goal in the 10th minute, while under pressure from Hungarian attacker Peter Halmosi.

That was the only goal of the first-half, and Scott Vernon did squander a terrific chance to equalise when scooping his shot over the bar with just keeper Luke McCormick to beat on 37 minutes.

But the Essex visitors were blown away in the second period. Two goals in a three-minute spell killed off the U's, with Jermaine Easter steering home Halmosi's mis-hit shot in the 57th minute, and Steve MacLean then hitting the target with a clinical free-kick.

There was some brief respite when Kevin Lisbie surged through to bury his 11th goal of the season in the 64th minute, only for Gary Sawyer to bundle home Plymouth's fourth just four minutes later.

The U's woeful night was complete when new signing Izzy McLeod, who came on as a substitute for his second appearance, was stretchered off after falling awkwardly near the corner flag.

United now have to pick themselves up for another away game at Crystal Palace on Saturday. It will be a tough task.