Colchester United suffered a third straight league defeat after losing 1-0 at home to Coventry City this afternoon.

In a game of few chances, Gary Madine's close-range strike with 16 minutes to go proved the difference between the two sides in front of the U's biggest home crowd of the season of 4,433.

Coventry missed a great chance to take a seventh-minute lead when Frank Nouble fluffed a weak effort straight at Sam Walker.

George Moncur’s shot whistled just past the far upright and Sanchez Watt’s free-kick was heading in until Coventry goalkeeper Ryan Allsop pushed it over, as the U's tried to carve out chances.

Nouble could only scuff a low shot wide for the visitors just before the break and Coventry eventually broke the deadlock with 16 minutes remaining through Madine, who prodded in from five yards after Walker had initially denied Danny Swanson.

Walker also foiled Ryan Haynes in the closing stages and the U's ended the game with only ten men after skipper Magnus Okuonghae was carried off, as Colchester suffered defeat.

For five pages of coverage of the U's game with Coventry, see Monday's Daily Gazette.