DANNY Cowley suffered a hugely disappointing one-year anniversary as Colchester United head coach after his side were beaten 2-0 at home by Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

The U's suffered a second successive defeat - their first at home since October - after a flat performance at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Colchester and their supporters, as the home side slumped to defeat in their first home game of 2025.

The U's failed to muster a shot on target throughout the 90-plus minutes.

Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, with Frankie Terry, Lyle Taylor, Oscar Thorn and Owura Edwards in for the suspended Ellis Iandolo, Harry Anderson, JK Gordon and Tom Hopper.

The U’s had a penalty appeal rejected in the eighth minute when Owura Edwards tumbled under Farrend Rawson’s challenge in the area but their claims fell on deaf ears.

Colchester came close to taking the lead soon after when Taylor scooped a shot wide at the near post from Thorn's cross, after Mandela Egbo's nice pass had released the young winger.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

But Accrington began to threaten after that and Tyler Walton spurned a gilt-edged chance for the visitors when he headed over from five yards, from Ash Hunter’s delivery.

And Colchester fell behind in the 18th minute when Shaun Whalley scored from the spot having being brought down by U’s captain Tom Flanagan in the box, after Nelson Khumbeni’s pass had dissected the home defence.

It was almost 2-0 just before the half hour when Whalley wastefully shot straight at the keeper for Accrington, after Macey's poor clearance had been cut out by Hunter.

But Colchester came close to equalising in first-half stoppage-time when Thorn’s effort was close range was blocked, as the hosts went in at the break behind.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

The U's made a change early in the second half, bringing on Arthur Read for Terry and switching to a more attacking formation.

However, Colchester fell further behind just before the hour mark when Whalley smashed the ball past Macey and into the centre of the net, after controlling Josh Woods' ball in from the right.

It left Colchester with a mountain to climb and they had to play the final stages with only ten men when Taylor was forced off with an injury, in the closing stages.

A total of nine minutes was added on at the end but it was not enough for Colchester to salvage anything from the game, as they tumbled to defeat.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Macey, Egbo (sub Anderson, 81), Flanagan, Donnelly, Terry (sub Read, 55), McDonnell, Bishop, Thorn, Payne (sub Gordon, 66), Edwards, Taylor.

Substitutes (not used): Kelleher, Goodliffe, Hopper, Smith.

Accrington Stanley: Crellin, J Woods, Love, Awe, Rawson, B Woods, Khumbeni, Martin (sub Conneely, 83), Walton (sub Mooney, 79), Whalley, Hunter (sub Henderson, 88).

Substitutes (not used): Knowles, Batty, Brown,

Goals: Accrington: Whalley (18, 59).

Bookings: Colchester: McDonnell (foul, 38), Donnelly (unsporting behaviour, 62), Read (foul, 78). Accrington: Love (unsporting behaviour, 39), Ben Woods (foul, 55).

Sending off: None.

Attendance: 4,366 (112 Accrington fans).