COLCHESTER United defender Pat Baldwin admitted that the U's were in desperate need for some new blood, and that even his position was not secure, after Saturday's dismal defeat at the hands of Peterborough.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United defender Pat Baldwin admitted that the U's were in desperate need for some new blood, and that even his position was not secure, after Saturday's dismal defeat at the hands of Peterborough.

Baldwin has been a mainstay of the U's defence this season but it is a back four that has now leaked 49 goals in just 28 league and cup games.

“We need to bring in some new players, and if that means replacing me or other individuals, then so be it!” insisted a refreshingly honest Baldwin.

“Perhaps that is the kick up the backside that we need, for a few new faces to come in. We have simply not been good enough.

“Peterborough played well. In fact, they taught us a lesson, One again we seemed to go back into our shells when playing at home.

“Aaron Mclean was my man for the corner (first goal), and I'm not happy about it. I need to go home and think about it. What we have to do now is show our character again, like we did at Charlton.

“How can we come from playing so well at Charlton (2-1 win on New Year's Day), to playing like that today? That's what the gaffer has just said to us. Peterborough came with a game-plan, and we didn't match their work ethic.

“All their goals came from crosses. It's something we have spoken about cutting out in training. The manager has been emphasising that, and we need to take heed.

“We need to improve all over the pitch,” added Baldwin.

U's boss Geraint Williams blasted his team for another non-descript home display, just four days after producing one of their best ever performances in the Championship.

Williams rued: “We have come full circle. There was the low of Blackpool (2-0 home defeat), then the great win at Charlton, and now we're back to this defeat.

“We need to find a base-line. We can't keep putting in such fluctuating performances.

“I don't know whether playing at Layer Road is preying on the players' minds. We have to get to the bottom of it, because we can't keep under-performing at home.

“I thought that Dean Gerken kept us in the game in the first-half, and the penalty then got us back in the game. But again we didn't start positively in the second-half.

“Peterborough were excellent, but what's disappointing is that we didn't put up a better fight. I need a reaction, and not just at Bristol City in a week's time, but in training on Monday.”

Peterborough midfielder Charlie Lee celebrated his 21st birthday with the killer third against the U's.

Lee said: “It was not as easy as it looked. We had it over Colchester today, but they will bounce back from this.

“I felt we played really well, especially in the first-half, and were very unlucky to only be level. We outplayed Colchester.”