Colchester United's winless run was extended to six games in all competitions after they played out a goal-less draw with bottom side Newport County this afternoon.

Chances were few and far between at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, as an injury-hit U's side struggled to break down a resilient Exiles team.

Colchester’s starting line-up featured two changes from the side that started at Carlisle United, seven days earlier.

Captain Luke Prosser was suspended so Alex Wynter was handed his first league start of the season, in central defence.

U’s head coach John McGreal also made a change up front, with Chris Porter preferred to Denny Johnstone in the number nine role.

It was a young bench for Colchester, with Johnstone the only non-U’s academy product among the substitutes.

There was no place in the final 18 for new signing Lloyd Doyley, who arrived on a free transfer last Friday.

Newport had the game’s first shot on target when Reece Grego-Cox’s ninth-minute fierce shot at the near post was comfortably saved by U’s keeper Sam Walker.

And at the other end a few minutes later, Sammie Szmodics' low drive from just outside the area well saved low down by Newport keeper Joe Day after good play by Lewis Kinsella.

Day then pushed Drey Wright's volley away at his near post for a corner after a good U’s attacking move while midway through the first half, Craig Slater’s free-kick from just outside the area curled inches wide of the near post as the hosts pressed for an opener.

Walker spectacularly pushed over Jon Parkin's half volley from close range but on the half hour mark, Wright’s rasping 25-yard strike skimmed the crossbar before sailing over.

Indeed, Wright was the U's best player in the first half, running at defenders and unlucky not to score more than once.

Colchester were forced into a half-time change, with youngster Cameron James on in place of Lewis Kinsella, who suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury in the closing stages of the first half.

Colchester almost took the lead in the opening minutes of the first half when Kurtis Guthrie's shot flashed inches wide, from Wright's cross.

But at the other end, Newport squandered a good chance themselves when defender Darran Jones headed wide from a corner, at the far post.

Dion Sembie-Ferris was sent on for Colchester on the hour for Tarique Fosu, in a bid to get the home side a winner, while Denny Johnstone appeared with 20 minutes remaining.

Guthrie’s ambitious low effort from the edge of the area flashed wide of the far post with 15 minutes remaining and substitute Denny Johnstone's attempted lob dropped just wide.

But Parkin's effort sailed narrowly over late on and substitute Marlon Jackson headed tamely at Walker for the visitors in the closing stages, as the points were shared.