Colchester United manager Danny Cowley was disappointed after his side slipped out of the League Two playoffs, as reported by The Daily Gazette.
The U’s went down 3-0 at now top of the table Doncaster Rovers.
Doncaster Rovers Show Ruthless Streak
Cowley saw his side drop out of the top seven and they now lie a point behind Grimsby Town with just two matches to play.
Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly condemned United to a first defeat in five, putting Rovers a point clear of second and four ahead of fourth-placed Walsall.
The Colchester boss praised the opposition as they took a giant step closer to League One football.
“We didn’t have the ruthlessness they had and I think that was the difference between the two teams really.”
The U’s Not Getting Rub Of The Green
“But for us, I thought a lot went against us if I’m honest.
“We’re running out of players – that’s the truth.”
“After a difficult way into the game, we actually played really well for a long period in this game against a team who are now top of this division.”
“We did a lot of good things both against the ball and with the ball but we probably just lacked a little bit of quality in the final third.”
Credit To Rovers
Cowley was disappointed with how his side were undone and allowed their hosts to score.
“Credit to Doncaster – they had a really good way into the game and they’re a really good team.”
“Our success is always been about our principles which against the ball are always about distances and making sure we have good distance control and trust the distances and making sure we’re aggressive with our pressure from there.”
“For the first goal, we trapped them on the right-hand side, we didn’t really commit and Jamie McDonnell one of our best defenders is probably the one that had to jump and we didn’t, we let them out, they got the good switch on and we know that they can be a real threat.”
“Up until Owura getting sent off, they had three shots but two really good bits of quality from them for their goals, you have to credit them for that, with the quality of the cross and the quality of the finish.”
Writer’s View
The Easter weekend has not been a good one for Colchester United and their grip on the final playoff spot has slipped through their grasp.
Games against fellow promotion chasers Salford City and mid-table side Barrow, neither of which The U’s have beaten this season, must be won and Cowley’s side must hope the Mariners slip up.
