SOMETIMES in football, results can be deceptive.

Colchester United’s 4-1 home defeat against Barrow was one of those occasions.

"People will look at the scores tonight and will be thinking 'Colchester got a hammering' but that definitely wasn't the case,” rued a pretty shell-shocked Matty Etherington not long after the final whistle, after seeing his side’s challenge crumble in the latter stages at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Colchester contributed to their own downfall (more of that later) but the final scoreline undoubtedly flattered an in-form Barrow side who had played their part in absorbing contest.

READ MORE: U's player ratings after Barrow home defeat

Make no mistake, the U’s were well in this game until stoppage-time, when the visitors capitalised on their hosts’ depleted numbers following Jayden Fevrier’s red card and gaps that materialised in the home defence as they pushed forward looking for an equaliser.

There were a lot of good things to come out of Colchester’s overall performance particularly in the first half, when they were arguably the better side and created the game’s best opportunities.

Gazette:

They had led through Cameron McGeehan’s close-range strike and even after the unfortunate Will Greenidge had put through his own goal early in the second half, the contest was tight.

Colchester had more than held their own against a very good side residing in the play-off positions and had opportunities to restore their lead, with McGeehan missing a gilt-edged chance and Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman in inspired form.

In the end, the U’s were made to pay for their lack of a clinical edge, hence the scoreline masking what was a decent performance.

However, this was not to ignore the deficiencies in the Colchester display.

READ MORE: Matty Etherington's verdict on Colchester's defeat against Barrow

The U’s start to the second half was slow, which allowed Barrow a route back into the contest and their inability to hold onto leads this season is proving costly.

Colchester will also be disappointed with the manner of the goals they conceded against Barrow, with two of them coming from set pieces.

The manner in which the U’s crumbled at the end - they conceded three goals in the space of nine minutes – is a worry, albeit against an impressive Barrow side.

Gazette:

By the time Colchester conceded their final three goals in the game they were down to ten men following Jayden Fevrier’s red card for two bookable offences.

The former West Ham youngster’s second yellow for a foul on Elliot Newby was certainly debatable but red cards have cost Colchester this season, with Fevrier’s their fifth dismissal already, in this campaign.

READ MORE: Match report as Colchester are beaten at home by Barrow

Colchester have no time to dwell on this painful defeat.

They are back in action at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night, where they will be aiming to build on the positives from their Barrow performance, of which there were many, while also ironing out the flaws that ultimately proved their downfall against Barrow.