COLCHESTER United manager John Ward was left frustrated at his side’s 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon.

It was the same old story for the U’s who more than matched their hosts for large periods only to suffer a 10th defeat from their last 13 league games.

“I’m frustrated that we haven’t come away with anything,” said Ward.

“We’ve come up against a very aggressive Sheffield Wednesday who were wound up and ready for the battle.

“We started well and took the game on as often as we could and you could sense the anxiety around the place both off the pitch and on it.

“The first goal was always going to be crucial and that calmed them down a bit.

“The second goal then made it really, really difficult because when Hillsborough gets going it’s a great place to be for a Sheffield Wednesday player.

“We pulled a goal back but it was too little, too late which was frustrating.”

Reflecting on the opening goal, Kemi Izzet inadvertently diverting the ball into the path of Mellor, Ward said: “I think he’s just tried to block it. We had five or six shots blocked around their penalty area but on those occasions it’s popped to a blue shirt rather than a red one.

“We’ve played some decent football against a big physical side, the disappointment is that we haven’t got at least a point from the game. Unfortunately that labels our away record form over a period of time as not very good.”

– More reaction in Monday’s EADT.