COLCHESTER United boss Danny Cowley was disappointed his side were unable to find a breakthrough against Carlisle United following this afternoon's 0-0 draw.

The U's had to settle for a point at the JobServe Community Stadium, after they played out their first League Two home goal-less draw since April, 2023.

Colchester had their opportunities to score particularly in the second half, with Jack Payne missing a great chance and Arthur Read denied by Carlisle's impressive goalkeeper Harry Lewis.

READ MORE: Match report as Colchester play out home draw with Carlisle

However, the U's were unable to break the deadlock as they played out a second successive draw.

Cowley said: “We’re disappointed that we couldn’t find that goal.

“We always back ourselves that if we keep a clean sheet, that we’ll win the game with the quality of attacking players that we have.

“We had a lot of territory and dominated the ball in the attacking half particularly in the second half but couldn’t quite find that goal.

“We had some good chances in the first half but we didn’t have it all our own way.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“They probably played differently to how we expected – we expected them to build more on the first line and our plan was to press them with our front five and be really aggressive and go after it.

“But they played two target men in Wyke and Armstrong and it meant that we had to change the shape at half-time and go to a back four.

“It allowed us to protect the front a bit more and made them build on the first line more and we were able to get after it from there.

READ MORE: Colchester United 0 Carlisle United 0 - as it happened

“I thought we were excellent in the second half and played well and did everything but find that goal.

“I think we played with a good intensity and a good energy, in the second half."

The draw leaves Colchester 16th in the League Two table, ahead of a two-week league fixture break.

Cowley continued: "It's only one loss in eight now and it's three clean sheets in the last eight, so that shows we're improving in that area which is good.

"But when you do keep a clean sheet, you expect to win particularly here.

"I thought the supporters were brilliant and they stayed with us right until the end and were literally sucking the ball into the goal but we just couldn't quite find it.

"I think their goalkeeper (Harry Lewis) was man of the match and he made some brilliant saves."