Colchester United boss, Tony Humes, admitted that his players have “got to do better than that,” if they are to avoid relegation this season.

“We just never got going,” insisted Humes, following tonight’s 1-0 defeat to Notts County.

“It was poor, and we were poor all game. We didn’t pass the ball. In fact, Notts County did to us what we had expected to do to them.

“My players looked nervous. I don’t know why – perhaps it was the expectation of this game?

“We just never got going all night, and we’ve got to find out why, because we’ve got a lot of important games coming up over the next few weeks. We’ve got to be braver than that, and we’ve got to be better than that.

“The players are scratching their heads in the dressing room, because the performance just wasn’t there.

“We looked a shadow of what we have been this season, but we have got to stick together,” added Humes.

Paddy McCourt headed home a 68th minute winner for the Magpies.