Joe Dunne will today begin preparing his players for the biggest game in Colchester United’s recent history – after admitting they are staring relegation in the face.

The U’s goal-less draw with Shrewsbury Town means they will travel to Carlisle United for their final match of the season with their League One status still hanging in the balance.

Colchester’s stalemate with Town – coupled with fourth-bottom Scunthorpe United’s shock 1-0 win at MK Dons – has left Dunne’s side three points above the bottom four, ahead of the final weekend of fixtures.

U’s boss Dunne said: “It’s a big week where you can either be a League Two player and disappear or a League One player and push on.

“We’re staring relegation in the face.

“Now it comes down to the last game at Carlisle, which isn’t in our advantage.

“We have to regroup, turn up and give a better account because there are a lot of jobs on the line.

“I’m furious – we were lacklustre and we let fear get in the way of everything.

“There was a big crowd and we were booed at the end and rightly so.

“They’ve aired their frustration and that’s justifiable.

“I can understand it but I don’t understand why we played like we did.

“We played with fear and we gave the fans nothing to cheer about.”

For more on this story and a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester United's game against Shrewsbury Town, see Monday's Gazette.