Colchester United head coach John McGreal admits his side's defeat at Newport County this afternoon was a 'tough one to take'.

The U's slipped to fourth in the table and were leapfrogged by their hosts, after McGreal's side were beaten at Rodney Parade.

After a tight first half with chances at a premium, second-half goals from Jamille Matt and Cameron Pring gave the Exiles victory.

McGreal said: "The first goal we conceded was a poor one for us to give away.

"I thought we bossed it for 55 minutes and then they got the goal and we had to change one or two things.

"But then we conceded a poor second goal and it was a tight game, as such.

"We had a lot of possession without overly creating and I don't remember Dillon (Barnes) doing anything.

"It's a tough one to take with the amount of fans that we brought.

"We're coming away from home against a side that's sixth knowing what game they're going to give you and we got it.

"I thought we were a little bit wasteful in our final passing and attacking third in the first half.

"But we started the second half particularly well and we had to dig in.

"They get the ball in long into your back four and we've been dealing with it all week.

"We did that in the first half but people have knocked off for the first goal.

"We didn't give in and we kept going but it wasn't our day today."

Colchester were without several players at Newport with midfielder Harry Pell suspended, Brandon Comley away on international duty and Tom Eastman, Rene Gilmartin and leading scorer Luke Norris all injured.

"We were missing five key players," added McGreal.

"We've lost three points and we're not getting carried away.

"The media have been getting carried away but we haven't and it's a tough division."