Blades thwarted by former Owl Morrison

John Cofie had put the visitors ahead in the first half but Colchester equalised after the break, salt being added to the wound as the scorer was former Sheffield Wednesday player Clinton Morrison.

Blades manager Wilson said: “We let them stay in the game when we should have put them out of sight. We had so much of the game but took our foot off the gas.”

He was disappointed with the manner of Morrison’s goal, commenting: “The lack of concentration is frustrating, it was a soft goal to concede.

“We created chances at will – we now need to turn the good play we’ve had in recent games into good results.

“The pleasing aspect of it all is that we are dominating games and getting on top of teams but getting the three points at the final whistle is the be-all and end-all.

“Whether we win 1-0 or five, six, seven or eight is not important, but getting three points is the aim.”

On-loan Manchester United youngster Cofie’s inexperience had shown when the ball bounced off his heels after Stephen Quinn had a shot blocked.

However, a minute later Cofie showed that, while he still has much to learn, there is magic in his boots by spiralling a wonderful 30-yard finish beyond Mark Cousins with 17 minutes gone.

It was a lead Blades held until midway through the second half. Morrison had captured a rare glimpse of Howard’s goal in the 70th minute but, having found some space beside Harry Maguire, dragged his shot well wide.

But he quickly made amends by prodding home from Anthony Wordsworth’s corner before running the full length of the pitch, hands cupped around ears, to confront the travelling support.

Colchester United: Cousins, Wilson, Okuonghae, Heath, Rose, O’Toole (Bond 47), Bean, Sears (Massey 88), Wordsworth, Henderson, Morrison. Unused substitutes: Pentney, Duguid, Izzet, Eastman, White.

Sheffield United: Howard, McMahon, Maguire, Collins, Hill, McAllister, Doyle, Quinn, McDonald, Cofie (Miller 64), Blackman. Unused substitutes: Long, Flynn, Harriott, Philliskirk, Ironside, Williams.

Referee: G Sutton (Lincolnshire).