United suffer home loss

Colchester United 2 Burnley 3CONCEDING two goals inside the first half-hour cost Colchester United dear as they slumped to their first defeat in the Championship, at the hands of Burnley this afternoon.

By Carl Marston

Colchester United 2 Burnley 3

CONCEDING two goals inside the first half-hour cost Colchester United dear as they slumped to their first defeat in the Championship, at the hands of Burnley this afternoon.

Former Ipswich Town man Alan Mahon broke the deadlock with a clinical finish in the 15th minute, and danger-man Andy Gray then volleyed home the second from Wade Elliott's cross on 28 minutes.

The U's came storming back, and Kevin Lisbie halved the deficit with a superb header from George Elokobi's cross on the stroke of half-time.

United's rearguard was halted by Gray's 62nd minute penalty, after Elokobi had tripped Chris McCann, although Adam Virgo set up an exciting finish by heading home his first goal for the club on 88 minutes.

Geraint Williams' men could not find an equaliser during six minutes of injury-time, and so suffered their first home defeat of the campaign, and their first reverse in four Championship fixtures.

The U's only showed flashes of form throughout the afternoon, and they were made to pay for their sluggish start.