Tony Humes admitted Colchester United were left to rue defensive errors after they were beaten 3-1 at Championship club Cardiff City to go out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage.

Joe Ralls put Cardiff ahead 11 minutes before the break with a deflected strike that eluded goalkeeper Sam Walker.

And when Kadeem Harris's acrobatic effort put the Bluebirds 2-0 ahead, Colchester were left up against it.

Kenwyne Jones scored with his first touch of the ball less than a minute after coming on as a substitute, to add a third for Cardiff.

Freddie Sears pulled a goal back for Colchester with 16 minutes to go and that prompted a late rally for the visitors.

The U's had a penalty shout when substitute Dion Sembie-Ferris - one of two academy players who made their senior debuts for Colchester at the Cardiff City Stadium - appeared to be pulled back in the area.

But Colchester were unable to score a second and bowed out of the competition, prompting Humes to reflect on the defensive lapses that led to them conceding twice in the second half.

Humes said: "The first goal was very unlucky - it took a double deflection but then we conceded from two set pieces where we haven't competed with them and that's the disappointing thing.

"You go away from the game thinking "we played well" and we played how we wanted to play.

"In the second half, we created more opportunities but the ball didn't run for us at times.

"It was pleasing to see Freddie score a goal.

"But we come away disappointed probably with the manner of how it happened, rather than anything else."

Humes stressed that there did not seem much between the two sides on the night.

He added: "It's another performance that we're happy with.

"The consistency in terms of our overall game is very good.

"We're using the ball well and out of possession, I thought that we looked quite solid.

"Sam (Walker) made a couple of good saves in the first half but overall, I think it was one of the better games where we defended well as a team.

"But we can't give good players free headers in the box and that was disappointing.

"Cardiff are a Championship side who were a Premier League side last year who have got quality.

"You can't give quality players a yard of space to have a free header in the box."

For a full match report, pictures, reaction and analysis to the U's defeat at Cardiff, see Monday's Daily Gazette.