U’s and me: Colchester United’s heavy defeats and how they bounced back ... or didn’t!

Darren Carter scores Preston's sixth goal in the 7-0 win over the U's in the FA Cup (Image: WARREN PAGE 07976 935738)

But how have the U’s responded to being on the wrong end of such drubbings?

The U’s defeat at Milton Keynes was the joint seventh heaviest loss since the club secured promotion to the Football League in 1950.

This Sunday, Tony Humes’ men will attempt to bounce back at the first time of asking, when they entertain fellow League One side Peterborough United in the second round of the FA Cup.

Here is how U’s sides, over the decades, have fared in the next game following a big reverse. It does not bode well:

Then-Norwich City manager Paul Lambert celebrates his side's 5-0 win at Colchester, while U's boss Aidy Boothroyd looks dejected

8-0 at LEYTON ORIENT

(October 15, 1988)

The U’s took not days, not weeks, but months to recover from this club record defeat at Brisbane Road.

In fact, it was only the second game in a disastrous 18-game run without a league victory, which saw manager Roger Brown lose his job. The U’s finished down in 22nd spot in the Fourth Division.

They didn’t win another league game until February.

7-0 at READING

(September 18, 1957)

There were nearly 14,000 fans at Reading’s Elm Park to see Benny Fenton’s side defeated. But three days later and Scotsman Hamish McNeill scored in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, this time in front of a crowd in excess of 16,000. The U’s went on to finish 12th in Division Three South.

7-0 at LEYTON ORIENT

(January 5, 1952)

A crowd of 12,000 was at Brisbane Road to witness the U’s crash to defeat, but Jimmy Allen’s men quickly recovered over the next couple of weeks, in terms of league results. Johnny McKim netted the winner at Shrewsbury, before a brace from Vic Keeble and one by McKim sealed a 3-2 success against Walsall. The U’s finished 10th in Division Three South.

7-0 at PRESTON NORTH END

(January 2, 2010)

There was no immediate bouncing back from this FA Cup third round defeat at Deepdale. The U’s next league game was a 5-0 home defeat, at the hands of Norwich City, in front of a crowd of 10,064 at the Community Stadium. Paul Lambert was the Canaries’ boss, and Aidy Boothroyd in charge of the U’s.

7-1 at PLYMOUTH

(October 28, 1950)

Jimmy Allen’s U’s took time to recover from that walloping at Home Park, in what was the club’s first ever season in the Football League. They lost their next two league games, both at home (to Ipswich 3-2, and Walsall 1-0), but rallied to then go on an unbeaten five-game run. They finished 16th in Division Three South.

7-1 at CREWE ALEXANDRA

(April 24, 1993)

Tony Naylor bagged five goals as the Railwaymen crushed Roy McDonough’s visitors at Gresty Road. Tony English was the lone U’s marksman that day.

But the U’s did rally to win their next game, through Paul Abrahams’ goal in a 1-0 home victory over Scunthorpe, before losing their final two games of the season to finish in 10th spot in the fourth tier.

6-0 at BRISTOL ROVERS

(April 14, 1952)

The U’s were reeling after this heavy loss, in front of a crowd of 10,630. Five days later and they suffered another big defeat, losing 5-0 at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, and they lost their next game 3-2 at Southend. It was certainly a testing week on the road!

6-0 at LEYTON ORIENT

(September 8, 1955)

A bumper gate of 13,483 watched the U’s routed in East London, and just two days later Benny Fenton’s side were soundly beaten 3-0 at Layer Road by Brentford. However, all was forgotten the following weekend when goals by John Harrison and Kevin McCurley secured a 2-1 home win over Leyton Orient. Revenge was sweet. The U’s finished 12th in Division Three South.

6-0 at NOTTS COUNTY

(May 17, 1963)

This was actually the last day of the season, not exactly the best way for Benny Fenton’s side to sign off, in 12th spot in the old Divison Three. They had the summer to stew over this rout, before returning to seal a 4-1 win over Barnsley the opening day of the 1963-64 season.

6-0 at Brighton

(January 17, 1976)

This was the third in a seven-game losing streak for Bobby Roberts’ struggling side, who were ultimately relegated from the third tier. After this defeat, they were beaten 4-1 at home by Hereford United.

6-0 at MK Dons

(November 29, 2014)

We don’t know yet how Tony Humes’ men will respond to last Saturday’s humiliation in Milton Keynes. Certainly, an FA Cup second round tie against Peterborough United will prove another stern test this Sunday.

7-2 at Tranmere

(March 11, 1961)

Benny Fenton’s side took time to get back on track after this demolition. They were thumped 4-1 at home by Watford in their next fixture, a week later. The U’s ended up being relegated from the old Division Three.