Colchester United’s first match, since manager Tony Humes’ departure last Thursday, ended in a disappointing 5-1 defeat at Burton Albion this afternoon.

Callum Harriott had fired the U’s into a fourth minute lead, only for the U’s to be over-run by goals from Nasser El Khayati (25), Mark Duffy (34), Tom Naylor (51), Lucas Akins (73) and Timmy Thiele (81) at the Pirelli Stadium.

After the match, joint interim boss Hall, who had taken charge of the team with John McGreal following Humes’ exit, revealed: “It’s been an emotional few days for me.

“It’s like Tony (Humes) and I have been joined at the hip for so many years, firstly at Ipswich and now at Colchester, so it’s been difficult.

“Now I will sit down and have a chat with the chairman (Robbie Cowling) next week.

“You could say that there’s a lot of thinking and a lot of talking to be done.”

With regards today’s defeat at Burton, Hall said: “It was the same old story.

“I don’t remember Jamie Jones having a save to make, and yet he has ended up picking the ball out of the net five times.

“Again it was individual errors that have cost us, along with naïvety and a lack of players taking responsibility.

“We have a weak under-belly,” admitted Hall.