The Tigers went out of the FA Cup at the Third Round stage after suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Colchester at the KC Stadium.
Two goals in the space of three minutes in the first half sealed the win for the visitors with the opener coming from Gareth Williams after 27 minutes before Craig Fagan added the second on the half hour mark.
The Tigers produced a much-improved display in the second half and had chances to score goals with the best falling to Jason Price whose effort went just wide of the post and Danny Allsopp who saw his strike hit the post and bounce back into the arms of the Colchester keeper.
Tigers boss Peter Taylor made four changes from the eleven that started the Tigers' 3-1 win at Stockport on Bank Holiday Monday.
Stev Angus returned to the starting line-up taking the right-back slot vacated by Marc Joseph's after he suffered an injury.
With Ian Ashbee suspended after picking up five yellow cards, Junior Lewis took the Tigers' skipper's place in the centre of midfield where he was joined by Stuart Green.
In Ashbee's absence Damien Delaney was given the captain's armband for the day.
Irish midfielder Michael Keane also returned to the starting line-up replacing Roland Edge who misses the game with an injury.
The Tigers started proceedings and almost created an opportunity in the first minute.
Price collected the ball after Green cleverly stepped over the ball and the Welshman played a first time ball looking for the run of Aaron Wilbraham.
However, the tall striker just couldn't burst past his markers and the ball seemingly went our for a corner kick but the assistant referee signalled for a goal kick.
Colchester's Craig Fagan hit the first effort of the game with 4 minutes gone but his speculative half volley from thirty yards sailed over Bo Myhill's crossbar.
The Tigers won a corner after sixth minutes when Dawson's attempted cross was deflected behind.
Dawson crossed from the left but failed to beat the first man and the Colchester defence headed clear.
More clever work from the Tigers carved out a half chance for Price after 8 minutes but his shot on the turn was deflected on the way to goal causing no problems for Dean Gerken in the visitors' goal.
The Tigers were then denied their second corner of the game when Facey's cross hit Sam Stockley before going behind but again the assistant referee flagged for a goal kick.
Colchester won their first corner of the game after 15 minutes which was swung in by Joseph Keith.
It went deep to the back of the Tigers' area where Leon Cort easily dealt with hit heading away the danger.
Dawson then had the Tigers' first real effort on goal after 17 minutes with well struck half volley that unfortunately went too high and cleared the crossbar.
Wilbraham won a free-kick just inside the visitors' half three minutes later which was taken quickly but Colchester soon regained possession after the Tigers gave the ball away cheaply.
Fagan then made Myhill work for the first time in the game after 23 minutes when he headed Gavin Johnson's cross towards goal although the Tigers keeper easily made the save.
Wilbraham was again awarded a free-kick after being bundled over ten yards outside the Colchester area a minute later.
Dawson sent his cross deep to the back post where Pat Baldwin was forced to concede a corner after Wilbraham placed him under pressure.
However, the Tigers could create nothing from the set-piece and the visitors cleared their lines.
Colchester then took the lead after 27 minutes.
The Tigers had possession in the middle of the pitch but a slip by Keane allowed the visitors to claim the ball and launch a counter attack.
Greg Halford took the ball forward waiting patiently to play the right ball picking out Williams in plenty of space.
Williams took his shot first time though and left Myhill with no chance as he found the bottom corner with his effort.
The Tigers responded well though and almost claimed an immediate equaliser but Green's effort from just outside was deflected off target.
Things went from bad to worse for the Tigers a minute later though as Craig Fagan added a second for Colchester from a corner.
Fagan was on the attack again just two minutes after netting his sides second but on this occasion he sent his effort well wide of the target.
Angus then produced some good defending but was unable to prevent the corner after tackling Fagan.
However, the visitors created nothing from the set-piece and the City defence were able to clear under no real pressure.
City won a corner of their own after 38 minutes and Dawson again crossed from the left flank.
The ball went deep and looked as though it had fell invitingly for Cort neat the back of the area but Brown reacted quickly to send the ball into the City half.
Good work from Facey saw the former Bolton man produce a tempting ball straight across the face of goal but nobody was on hand to apply the final touch that would put the Tigers back in the game.
Wilbraham came close to pulling a goal back seconds later but luck was not on the big man's side after Price's cross bounced off two defenders before hitting Wilbraham and going wide.
Price then became the first player of the game to be cautioned after 42 minutes for an altercation with Fagan which also saw the Colchester striker booked.
Chilvers was then penalised for a challenge on Price that should've seen the defender booked in stoppage time at the end of the first half but no card was shown by the referee.
Half Time: Tigers 0 Colchester 2
Peter Taylor made once change at the break taking off Michael Keane and bringing on Danny Allsopp.
The Tigers made a bright start to the half and looked to attack the Colchester goal straight away with Facey almost going past his man on the left wing.
Price almost found himself in on goal moments later but was blown up after failing to fool the referee with a blatant handball.
The Tigers then had some defending to do as the visitors had two consecutive corners and they were up to the task as Myhill wasn't troubled from either of the set-pieces.
Price [pictured] then had the Tigers' best chance of the game so far after 52 minutes.
Delaney launched a long ball into the Colchester area and everyone missed it allowing it to come to Price towards the back post.
The Welshman opted for a first time effort and sent the ball on target but Gerken did well to get something on it to direct the ball past the post.
However, the officials disagreed that the keeper got a touch on the ball and awarded a goal kick to the visitors.
Colchester won another corner after 56 minutes which was crossed in by Keith but the Tigers finally managed to clear their lines at the third attempt.
Halford had Phil Parkinson's side first chance of the second half on the hour mark but he headed high and wide from eight yards.
Myhill then kept his side in the game when he denied Williams from point blank after the Colchester forward had latched onto Fagan's cross.
The Tigers responded well though and came within inches of grabbing a goal back when Allsopp flicked an effort against the post before Gerken was alert enough to jump on the rebound.
Peter Taylor then made his second change of the game after 64 minutes.
Scott Wiseman was brought on to replace Stev Angus in the Tigers' defence.
Wiseman was involved immediately as the Tigers turned defence into attack with a quick brake.
Green picked up the loose ball on the edge of his own area before laying the ball out to Wiseman.
The youngster carried the ball into the Colchester half before finding Green again in space.
Green in turn looked to find Wilbraham inside the area but his precise ball was cut out just at the right time by Brown.
Peter Taylor made his third and final change after 66 minutes when Russell Fry came on to replace Aaron Wilbraham.
Wiseman lofted a dangerous looking cross into the Colchester area five minutes later but Gerken read the situation well and claimed the ball ahead of Allsopp on the penalty spot.
Allsopp then became the second Tigers player to be booked when he fouled Baldwin on the half way line.
The Australian was then involved in goalmouth action after 77 minutes but couldn't get the power or the direction into his header from eight yards out and the ball went wide without troubling Gerken.
Myhill was then cautioned after the referee adjudged him to have deliberately handled the ball outside his area with 82 minutes gone.
Phil Parkinson made his first change of the game after 83 minutes taking off Gareth Williams and bringing on Jamie Cade.
Allsopp was again close to finding the back of the net moments later when he got onto the end of a Wiseman cross but could only manage to loop an effort over the bar.
Dawson then became the next City player to be booked when he was cautioned for a foul after 85 minutes.
Cade then had the chance to add a third four minutes from time but lost his composure at the vital moment smashing a shot well over from ten yards.
Lewis had chance in stoppage time but his back header from Dawson's cross went past the wrong the side of the post with Gerken beaten.
Tigers (4-4-2) Bo Myhill; Stev Angus (Wiseman 64mins), Leon Cort, Damien Delaney [captain], Andy Dawson; Jason Price, Stuart Green, Junior Lewis, Michael Keane (Allsopp 46mins); Aaron Wilbraham (Fry 66mins), Delroy Facey.
Subs: Matt Duke, Danny Allsopp, Scott Wiseman, Russell Fry, Richard Hinds.
Bookings: Price 42, Allsopp 72, Myhill 83, Dawson 86
Colchester United (4-4-2) Dean Gerken; Sam Stockley, Pat Baldwin, Wayne Brown [captain], Liam Chilvers; Joe Keith, Kevin Watson, Greg Halford, Gavin Johnson; Gareth Williams (Cade 83mins), Craig Fagan.
Subs: Jamie Cade, Stephen Hunt, Ben Bowditch, George Elokobi, Marc Cousins.
Bookings: Fagan 43
Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
Attendance: 14,027
