Elliot Lee, along with the rest of his Colchester United team-mates, was on the receiving end of a half-time rant from manager Joe Dunne at Rotherham last Saturday.

But Dunne’s interval outburst certainly had the desired effect.

It was all smiles in the U’s camp at the final whistle, with Lee sporting the broadest smile of them all following a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Stung into action after their half-time dressing down, the U’s improved after what had been a woeful first period.

But they still seemed to be heading for defeat, until Lee popped up with a last minute equaliser.

The U’s hardly deserved a point, but the Millers’ inability to kill them off left the door ajar in stoppage time.

Lee made them pay with his first senior goal – the West Ham loanee’s header struck the underside of the bar and dropped over the goal-line, with the assistant referee waving his flag to confirm the goal.

“We got the hair-dryer treatment from the gaffer at half-time,” revealed Lee.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half, but I thought we were much better in the second half. We were a different team.

“I don’t think I even had one chance, before my equaliser. But I just kept telling myself that I’m going to get a chance, and that’s what happened.

“It felt like I had scored the winner, the way all the lads celebrated,” added Lee.

This was only Lee’s third senior start of his career, and the 18-year-old’s first full 90 minutes.

His dad, ex-England, Charlton and Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee, was not at the New York Stadium to see his son enjoy his big moment.

He confirmed: “My dad was not watching today. He was at my brother’s (Olly’s) game at Birmingham.

“But I’ve had a few messages and a few tweets from my old man, and I’ll be telling him about my goal.”

The U’s are in FA Cup action this Saturday, at home to Sheffield United.