Colchester United suffered a club record ninth successive league defeat this afternoon after losing 2-1 to fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United.

Goals from Jimmy Ryan and Karl Hawley left Colchester with a mountain to climb.

And although substitute Freddie Sears pulled a goal back for the U's just before the hour, it was not enough to prevent them losing to their relegation rivals and dropping into the bottom four.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's home defeat to Scunthorpe, see Monday's Daily Gazette.