Late goals have effectively cost Colchester United their League One status this season.

East Anglian Daily Times: Colchester players make their way off the pitch at Walsall after conceding two late goals to slither to a 2-1 defeatColchester players make their way off the pitch at Walsall after conceding two late goals to slither to a 2-1 defeat (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

The U’s have leaked a remarkable 17 goals, from the 80th minute onwards in their 43 league games which, more importantly, have lost them 14 points.

Kevin Keen’s men are on the brink of relegation, following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Crewe when substitute Callum Saunders rescued a point for the basement dwellers with an injury-time header.

That one moment summed up the season for the U’s – they have simply not managed to hold onto leads, or close out draws, during the dying minutes of too many matches.

Looking at the bigger picture, the U’s look certain to be officially relegated this weekend, regardless of their own result at home to promotion-chasing Burton tomorrow afternoon.

The Essex club are eight points adrift of safety, with just three games left, and also have a woeful goal difference.

Here is a run-down of those 17 goals conceded in the last 10 minutes of matches, including stoppage time, highlighting the points that have slipped through the U’s finger-tips as a result:

THE LATE GOALS

1 Fleetwood Town (away, 4-0 defeat, Aug 22) – Jamille Matt (86)

2 Shrewsbury Town (away, 4-2 defeat, Oct 10) – Sullay Kaikai (81)

3 Wigan Athletic (away, 5-0 defeat, Oct 17) – Will Grigg (87)

4 Walsall (home, 4-4 draw, Oct 24) – James O’Connor (90+1) *2pts lost

5 Millwall (away, 4-1 defeat, Nov 21) – Byron Webster (81)

6 Crewe (home, 3-2 defeat, Nov 24) – Marcus Haber (80)

7 Crewe (home, 3-2 defeat, Nov 24) – Ryan Lowe (90+3) *3pts

8 Burton Albion (away, 5-1 defeat, Nov 28) – Timmy Thiele (81)

9 Sheffield United (away, 2-1 defeat, Jan 16) – Anthony Edgar (90+1) *1pt

10 Southend United (away, 3-0 defeat, Feb 6) – Anthony Wordsworth (82)

11 Southend United (away, 3-0 defeat, Feb 6) – Adam Barrett (88)

12 Southend United (away, 3-0 defeat, Feb 6) – Sam McQueen (90+3) *1pt

13 Wigan Athletic (home, 3-3 draw, March 12) – Will Grigg (90) *2pts

14 Walsall (away, 2-1 defeat, March 19) – Tom Bradshaw (89)

15 Walsall (away, 2-1 defeat, March 19) – Matt Preston (90+4) *3pts

16 Peterborough (home, 4-1 defeat, April 16) – Marcus Maddison (90+4)

17 Crewe (away, 1-1 draw, April 19) – Callum Saunders (90+1) *2pts