MAGNUS Okuonghae has called for more leadership, on the pitch, following Colchester United’s 5-1 capitulation at MK Dons on a rain-soaked last Saturday.

Angry U’s manager Joe Dunne bemoaned his players’ lack of leadership, and motivational skills, in terms of communicating with each other after a fifth defeat in six games.

Dunne insisted that his players – “don’t talk on the pitch” – and experienced centre-half Okuonghae was not about to disagree.

“Possibly there was a lack of leaders on the pitch. How can you disagree with anything that the manager says after a 5-1 defeat?” explained Okuonghae.

“There are enough players out there who know how to lead, but whether they are leading, that’s debatable.

“We definitely got over-run. MK Dons played better than us.

“We have to stand up to it, early doors as a team, when we are in the game.

“And it is a worry that we did not stand up to it, and that we later allowed them to make it a rout.”

The U’s have dropped to 17th in the table, and are now just four points clear of the drop zone after a miserable November, featuring five defeats in six games.

Dunne’s men now have a two-week break before their next game, at home to Oldham on December 8, due to their early exit from the FA Cup at Chelmsford City.

Okuonghae sees this mini-break as a chance to take stock.

“We must and try to put it right,” admitted Okuonghae.

“No game coming up, this week or even next Saturday, gives us a break away from it all.

“It will be a little come-down for us, although we’ll be working very hard in training.

“It gives us a chance to regroup and get ourselves right for the next game. There are too many highs and lows at the moment, we are very inconsistent.

“But I didn’t see the (last) performance coming.”

Okuonghae took time out to apologise to the supporters, who made the journey to Buckinghamshire on such a rain-lashed day.

And he also admitted that the U’s will be in a relegation battle, if things don’t improve.

“It was a very disappointing performance and apologies to all the supporters who came to watch the game,” continued Okuonghae.

“We will be in a relegation struggle, if it carries on, that’s the reality of it.

“It won’t be the first time for some of the boys, not here of course, but for those who have been around the block. That’s when you have to come together and be strong,” concluded Okuonghae.”