Just the width of a post denied Colchester United the possibility of claiming a dramatic point at Wolves tonight.

The U’s had been swamped in the first half at Molineux, and were lucky to be only 3-0 down at the break following goals by Michael Jacobs, Dave Edwards and James Henry.

But Joe Dunne’s men came storming back in the second period. Alex Gilbey and David Wright both celebrated their first goals in a U’s shirt – it was Gilbey’s first ever senior goal – to set up a pulsating finale.

And Freddie Sears then rattled the inside of a post with a rasping shot, on 86 minutes, which would have made it 3-3 and so given the U’s a chance to close out the game.

However, luck was not on their side, and substitute Nouha Dicko grabbed a fourth with virtually the last kick of the game for a relieved Wolves, to seal a 4-2 win.

“We didn’t defend well tonight, and all our plans went out of the window by conceding after just 53 seconds,” admitted manager Dunne.

“But in the second half, after they had had a couple of early chances, I thought we were excellent.

“We made some substitutions tactically changed our shape, and had a great response.

“Freddie Sears hits the post to make it 3-3, and we were really going for it at the end, which left us open at the back.

“In the end, 4-2 looks harsh. I know they had a lot of chances, but it’s not my fault that they missed them!

“I have to pay great credit to my players. In the second half they really dug in deep, and showed great character again.

“But you can’t give a goal away against a team like Wolves, after just 53 seconds. It was a joke goal which we should have dealt with, and a failed back pass (by Ryan Dickson) then gifted them a second.

“At half-time I said to the players that we could conform to little Col U, and get crushed, or we could fight back, like we did against Brsitol City, which we did,” added Dunne.