Barnsley 1 Colchester 0COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams admitted that his side face a “difficult task” to pull clear of the Championship's relegation zone, following defeat at Barnsley last night.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams admitted that his side face a “difficult task” to pull clear of the Championship's relegation zone, following defeat at Barnsley.

The U's have 18 games to save themselves, having mustered just 26 points from their first 28 fixtures. It is a tall order.

“It's going to be difficult for us to get out of trouble, and we probably need to earn an average of one-and-a-half points a game from here on in,” confessed Williams last night.

“We need to go on a run, the sort that saw us take four points from the Charlton (2-1 win) and Bristol City (1-1 draw) games. We should have carried on that run into the Barnsley game.

“It was difficult to tell who was at the bottom and who was in mid-table. Often, it's just one little thing that decides games in this division. It was the case the previous night (Leicester City's late winner against Crystal Palace), and it was the case again here.

“I'm very disappointed, because we started the game so well. We created two or three very good chances, and we looked quite comfortable in the first-half.

“However, they caught us with a sucker punch. The goal started from our own attacking throw-in. They broke quickly, but we had the men back to cope. One of their strikers (Daniel Nardiello) challenged for the ball, and the other (Jonathan Macken) put it in,” added Williams.

The U's boss was disappointed that his side did not put home keeper Heinz Muller under much pressure, after the German injured his knee during the first quarter of the game.

Williams said: “The injury to the keeper seemed to disrupt us, while making Barnsley defend better. To be honest, I don't know if he was that seriously injured anyway.

“His knee seemed to miraculously come to life whenever he had to make a save. I think that he was playing the old soldier. He's a hero, but I think he was playing to the crowd a little. I apologise if I'm wrong,” concluded the Welshman.