Some team is going to get a really good hiding once luckless Colchester United start putting away their chances.

Manager Steve Whitton and goalkeeper Simon Brown are certain that day is not too far away after the U's carved out a number of good chances, but still lost 3-1 at home to Stoke City at Layer Road.

Brown said: "Some team is going to get hammered seven or eight nil by us one of these days.

Whitton agreed: "We all knew in the dressing room that we had totally outplayed one of the top sides in our league for 80 per cent of the game, but had nothing to show for our efforts.

"It shows something when the crowd stays right to the end to applaud the lads off the pitch when they have just seen them get beaten 3-1."

Whitton added the U's opponents are scoring 90 per cent of their chances while his team just cannot find the finishing touches.

He said: "We had enjoyed most of the play only to find ourselves two goals down in the last five minutes of the first half. Many of the lads are adamant their third goal was offside.

"But we won't be letting ourselves get carried away by the fact that the goals aren't going in for us.

"I was highly delighted with the performance of my players over the 90 minutes."

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Published Thursday, March 7, 2002