COLCHESTER United boss Paul Lambert refused to be too downcast, despite another defeat for his side at promotion-chasing Peterborough.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United boss Paul Lambert refused to be too downcast, despite another defeat for his side at promotion-chasing Peterborough.

The U's suffered injuries to the defensive trio of Matt Heath, John White and Lee Hills, and all three are likely to miss Tuesday night's home game against fellow strugglers Yeovil.

Goals for Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd secured a 2-1 win for Posh, with Boyd netting the winner just two minutes after Clive Platt's 61st minute equaliser.

Lambert said: “It's unheard of to lose three of your back four. That was amazing.

“But we're not going to feel sorry for ourselves, and I've told the lads there's no point in being despondent. We didn't capitulate when we were up against it, and our luck will turn.

“It was a big performance for us, in terms of what happened to us defensively. There weren't many chances in the game, and our biggest mistake was not getting through those next five or 10 minutes after getting the equaliser. We needed to see it through.

“We may be having a lot of misfortune at the moment, but that's the nature of football, added Lambert.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: “This was a hard-earned win. I knew that it would be a difficult game, and so it proved.”