COLCHESTER United boss Joe Dunne is staying positive about his side’s survival chances – despite suffering a costly 1-0 defeat at home to Oldham Athletic today.

The U’s are still just above the League One relegation zone but Tom Eastman’s unfortunate own goal just before half-time led to another defeat at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“It was a difficult game to lose and a big blow in terms of trying to survive in this league.

“But we’re not down and we’re not feeling sorry for ourselves.

“It looks like we’re going to have to do it the hard way but we’ll go again and with three games to go, we can still get ourselves out of trouble.

“We have to believe that.

"What would the point be in me sitting here saying we’re going to lose our next three games.

“People will leave here today thinking we’re down, but they shouldn’t feel that way.

“It’s not like we played badly or were pathetic.

“We took the game to them and did everything we possibly could.”

For full coverage of the game, including more from Dunne and the thoughts of Gavin Massey, see Monday’s Gazette.