U’s crash to their sixth defeat in seven

COLCHESTER United crashed to their sixth defeat in seven matches, to leave them slipping closer to the relegation zone.

Oldham were good value for their win, scoring in each half to increase the pressure on Joe Dunne’s men.

Giant defender Jean-Yves M’Voto broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, thanks to a towering header from Lee Croft’s corner.

M’Voto’s powerful header flew into the net, off the underside of the bar, leaving manager Dunne frustrated to see another goal conceded from a set piece.

Oldham made the game safe on 61 minutes. Matt Derbyshire scampered clear of the U’s back-line and, although his shot was diverted onto the post by Mark Cousins, the ball seemed to roll into the net off Brian Wilson.

This was another dreadfully disappointing display for the U’s, who are low on confidence and conceding far too many goals.

And to make matters worse, the U’s had lost midfielder Craig Eastmond to a serious injury, incurred in training on Friday.

Arsenal loanee Eastmond has played his last game for the U’s, after suffering a suspected broken metatarsal. He will be out for a few weeks, and so has returned to the Emirates.

There had been little to choose between the two teams, until M’Voto broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark with his superb header.

But Oldham took control for the rest of the first half, with the U’s a shade fortunate to be only 1-0 down at the break.

James Wesolowski squandered a great chance on 39 minutes, firing wide with just Cousins to beat following Cristian Montano’s cross.

And it needed a magnificent block by Magnus Okuonghae, to prevent Jose Baxter from slotting home the second in the 43rd minute.

Only the woodwork denied the U’s an equaliser in the 52nd minute. Andy Bond’s snap shot took a deflection before rebounding off the near post

Eight minutes later and Oldham doubled their lead, to effectively seal a fourth win in their last five games.

The U’s, operating with a 4-4-2 formation in the second half, did have chances to pull a goal back.

But Freddie Sears could not beat keeper Cisak, on a one-on-one situation, and Jabo Ibehre headed straight at Cisak from a great position on 80 minutes.

Squads

COLCHESTER UNITED: Cousins, Wilson, Okuonghae, Eastman, Potts, Bond (sub Gilbey, 70), Bean (sub Wright, 57) Wordsworth, Henderson (sub Morrison. 80), Ibehre, Sears. Unused subs: Rose, O’Toole, Thompson, Pentney.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC: Cisak, Brown (sub Byrne, 46), Grounds, M’Voto, Wabara, Croft (sub Simpson, 90), Furman, Wesolowski, Montano (sub M’Changama, 90), Baxter, Derbyshire. Unused subs: Jacob, Tarkowski, Smith, Sutherland.

Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)

Attendance: 2,987