Colchester United manager John Ward admitted his side were punished by a clinical Charlton Athletic side tonight.

The U’s fell to their first league defeat of the season when they were beaten 2-0 by the Addicks, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Charlton striker Bradley Wright-Phillips twice capitalised on poor defending to condemn Colchester to defeat.

Ward said: “I can’t match them because I haven’t got a million pounds and my players are going to make mistakes every now and again and you get punished by them.

“They didn’t make too many mistakes in the same way that we did and if you do that against good teams, they’re going to punish you.

“That’s just how the game has gone for us tonight and on another night you get yourselves in good positions like we did in previous games.

“Charlton are a very good side and they were the better team on the night.

“They were sharper and quicker, particularly in the first half.

“They were very pacy, very direct and very effective.”

Ward admitted the best team won the game but was happy with his side’s commitment in the second half.

The U’s had a mountain to climb after falling two goals behind in the first half.

“We were committed and we kept going until the end,” added Ward.

“We tried to find a way of getting a goal back.

“But the best team won the game and we have to put our hands up and say so.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.