It might be a little unfair on new manager Tony Humes, who has only just taken charge, but Colchester United’s poor start to their current season is the worst for 63 years.

The U’s picked up only their second point of the campaign, with a goalless draw at Walsall on Saturday, to mark Humes’ first match at the helm following previous boss Joe Dunne’s departure at the start of last week.

It was a satisfying performance, and a satisfying result, for the under-pressure U’s following five defeats on the spin.

They will now be looking to build on that at Leyton Orient this weekend.

However, the statistics do not lie and the fact is that Colchester have only once before endured a poorer start to a season, since were they initially promoted to the Football League in 1950.

In only their second season at this level – Division Three South – Jimmy Allen’s side of 1951-52 failed to win any of their first seven league games.

Whereas the current-day U’s have taken two points from a possible 18 in their first six games, the class of 1951-52 mustered just one solitary point from a possible 21.

The one positive was a 1-1 home draw in their first league game, when Vic Keeble scored.

Ironically, though, Humes’ current squad can take heart from the experiences of 63 years ago, because Allen’s men soon found their feet, going on an unbeaten eight-game run and eventually finishing the season in mid-table in 10th spot.

Any hopes of the U’s posting a top 10 finish seem far-fetched at present, and certainly most U’s fans would just be happy with a third successive season of just avoiding the drop.

No Colchester team has played in the fourth tier for 16 years, ever since Steve Wignall’s side clinched promotion in 1998, and Humes has time on his side to change the club’s fortunes around.