THE 4-1 scoreline at Gigg Lane said it all!

Colchester United manager John Ward certainly had no complaints with his side’s 4-1 defeat at the hands of Bury yesterday, choosing instead to criticise his team’s woeful display following a biggest away defeat of the campaign.

“The scoreline was as bad as it sounds,” confessed Ward.

“I’m really disappointed in everything that I have seen this afternoon, because I thought we had got those sort of performances and those sort of defeats out of our system.

“We’ve pulled through really well after the 5-1 and 6-1 defeats (to MK Dons and Stevenage respectively) from earlier in the season, which is when we could have fallen away.

“We re-galvanised, but today we then slipped back into that lethargic kind of performance.

“We could contest a couple of decisions in terms of the referee, but in no way would I blame him.

“We were lethargic in our performance today. We have not been strong enough,” added Ward.

The U’s missed the presence of Magnus Okuonghae in the heart of defence. The ex-Dagenham & Redbridge centre-half did not travel due to injury.

Ward confirmed: “You always miss good players, and we did miss Magnus.

“Matt Heath is a good player, and we are talking about Tom Eastman coming through to be a good player, but those two had a really tough afternoon.

“So yes, we did miss Magnus.

“Ben Williams has had to make a few good saves, because in front of him we have been fairly weak.

“Our weaknesses were exploited, but Ben Williams was not one of these weaknesses. He did very well.

“We’ve wobbled today, and that has affected our passing and our decision making. Bury thoroughly deserved their win.”