U’s lose, but then so do Scunthorpe

COLCHESTER United suffered a home defeat at the hands of play-off chasing MK Dons tonight, but they remain five points clear of the relegation zone.

The U’s conceded a goal in each half, from Daniel Powell and Patrick Bamford, to leave them embroiled in a relegation battle.

But Scunthorpe’s 2-1 defeat at already doomed Bury was a big plus for the U’s – the Iron stay fourth from bottom, with just two games remaining.

Powell struck early, after just 12 minutes. The young winger capitalised on acres of space down the right wing, and his low shot flew low past an exposed Sam Walker.

The U’s threw everything at their visitors, for the remainder of the half, but could not fashion an equaliser.

Freddie Sears struck a post from close in, just after the half-hour mark, while the likes of Jabo Ibehre, Gavin Massey and Andy Bond all squandered chances.

Joe Dunne’s men were not so effective in the second half, and the writing was on the wall when Bamford scampered onto Luke Chadwick’s through ball to direct his shot beyond the reach of Walker for the killer second.

But although this was a disappointing result, Scunthorpe’s failure to hold onto a lead at Gigg Lane, eventually losing to Bury, means that the U’s only need to beat Shrewsbury at home