Frustrated and crestfallen Colchester United midfielder Kemal Izzet summed up his team's perfortmance by saying 'we weren't brave enough'.

The U's fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road, their first of the season.

Izzet said: "We weren't brave enough in the final third of the pitch.

"There weren't too many runs off the ball in and around Crewe's goal area and apart from Scotty's (Scott McGleish) first half header we hardly created a worthwhile chance.

"Both of their goals came as results of errors by us and I hold my hands up for the second one."

Izzet said: "It was so disappointing after our great start and we all sat in the dressing room wondering just how we lost that match.

"Maybe we've got to take less risks in future games and learn to grind out some results."

Crewe manager Dario Gradi was full of praise for Colchester's pretty and intricate passing football.

He said: "We didn't want to let Colchester dominate us with their eye-catching passing football.

"We were more direct than usual and took our chances when they came."

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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