Colchester United’s stalwart winger, Gavin Massey, confessed that it was all the players’ fault for Saturday’s second-half shocker at Shrewsbury Town.

But Massey promised that such a sad capitulation would not happen again.

The U’s were coasting at 2-0 up at half-time, against the Shrews, and heading for what would have been a fifth win in six games.

But Tony Humes’ men then folded in dramatic fashion during a one-sided second period, with lowly Shrewsbury scoring four unanswered goals to seal a 4-2 victory.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, for U’s players, management team and supporters alike, but Massey is confident that the Essex club can bounce back at Wigan Athletic this Saturday.

“I think we got a little bit complacent, so it was down to our fault. It was our fault,” confirmed Massey.

“It was down to the players, it was our fault, but we will pick ourselves up and put it right for the club on Saturday.

“Shrewsbury brought on a couple more attacking players (Tyrone Barnett and Sullay Kaikai, who both scored twice), and they started going really long. We weren’t dealing with that, which is how they got their goals.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose the game.

“But even though we lost this one, we are a different team this season, and there is no need to panic.

“I don’t think there were worrying signs (at Shrewsbury), because we have dealt with that sort of pressure before, like at Sheffield United (3-2 away win) and against a few other teams as well.

“This was just one of those days. We will be looking to put it right on the training field, and then hopefully picking up something at Wigan,” added Massey.

After three successive seasons of struggle, to avoid relegation – two of those three years came down to final-day escape acts – the U’s do indeed look better-placed this term.

Despite back-to-back defeats, at home to Bury (1-0) and then at Shrewsbury, the U’s are sitting pretty in 12th spot, five points clear of the relegation zone.

“We’ve lost a couple of games on the bounce, which is disappointing, but we will be looking to put that right,” continued Massey.

“We are a different team to previous seasons. We are not worried, because we will go again and get something on Saturday.

“This is a different Colchester United this season, and it’s something the fans should be getting excited about.

“It’s only two games ago that we did so well to win at Swindon, and after just two defeats that seems to have been forgotten about.

“But it shouldn’t be, because we have put in a lot of hard work to get into the position that we are in now. We want to build on that.

“It’s a long season, and with the quality we have got in the team, everyone should be excited for the season.

“At Shrewsbury, we just couldn’t get a foothold in the second half. We couldn’t get our passing rhythm going, because they put so much pressure on us, by going long. We couldn’t win the second balls, and that theme kept going on.

“We obviously tried to get out of it, and I wouldn’t say they were a better side than us on the day. We just fell apart, being put under pressure.

“If this happened again, we’d go about it in a very different sort of way. We won’t let that happen again.

“I don’t think it’s a mental thing. Sheffield United got it back to 2-2, and yet we went on and won that game.

“And at Swindon, they put a lot of pressure on us, but we still won that game comfortably. So it’s not a mental thing.

“Personally, I think it’s just a blip or a hiccup. I don’t think there is anything to worry about,” added 23-year-old Massey, who has already made 144 appearances for the U’s.