WHERE do I start? While we knew that Walsall away was never going to be an easy game, I do not think anyone – rightly so – would have guessed the manner of our defeat.

We went from the best performance we had seen from the current squad to the worst, in the space of a week.

Against Tranmere we were on the front foot, taking our chances and a threat in front of goal, while being solid at the back.

READ MORE: 'It's something we need to address': Danny Cowley

But at Walsall, we seemed to fear shooting, forget how to pass the ball and have any sense of organised defence.

Admittedly, for the first 20 minutes we looked a football team and were offering something.

But for all the good football and interplay we still were very guilty of not capitalising and delivering where it counted, namely in front of the hosts' goal.

We went in at the break 1-0 down after a long ball was not dealt with, allowing Walsall the break they needed and they were not going to ask twice.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

While there was frustration at half-time, the travelling fans still believed that we could get something from the game, but the second half was frankly embarrassing.

Whatever was said during the break did not work and we came out for the second 45 a shadow of the team U’s fans were expecting.

We huffed and puffed, but were second best throughout.

The afternoon completely unravelled before of our eyes when Albert Adomah managed to squeeze the ball home on 79 minutes.

And our defence was non-existent for Jack Earing's quick-fire double that finished off a convincing victory for Walsall and a long trip home for the U’s.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Walsall defeat

It always seems to take a great deal longer to get home after a defeat, but this time was even worse.

We were at a loss to put into words just what we had seen.

How can a team go from being so dominant to such a pushover in such a short space of time?

We are much better at home than on the road, the capitulation at Morecambe added more evidence to that, but still, it is like watching two different teams.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

There is talk about the club's mentality and how deep rooted this is.

It's a subject of much debate and divides opinion as to what is to blame.

So much has changed, yet there is still the shadow of the same old Col U.

Things are changing, but this takes time and mid-table is an improvement of what we have witnessed over the last few seasons, so there is progress and that has to be the realistic measure of success.

But this does not mean we have to accept what we witnessed on Saturday.

READ MORE: Five observations from Colchester United's defeat at Walsall

We have a busy schedule of games and the quick turnaround means we are back in action again tomorrow night, at Port Vale.

Vale have enjoyed a decent start to the season and with it being another trip up North, it will be a test.

There must be changes to the starting XI and freshen things up, add some new faces and reignite the fight for the shirt.

We can't allow complacency and players to feel undroppable.

Questions have been asked, now answers need to be found, not in words, but in actions.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

We really do not want a repeat of the years when we seemed unable to win a game of football north of Colchester.

While we are not a crisis point yet and we have seen what the squad can produce, there is the worry that unless we can become consistent and play well more often than not, then some of the hard-earned feel good factor that has risen around the club could start to fade and this is something no-one wants.

It will be interesting to see what changes are made for the Vale game and how we respond.

The fans are doing their bit as always and let's hope for a more positive run of results over the next few games and beyond. Up the U’s.