We take a closer look at Saturday's game.
Coventry City took the points on Saturday as a single goal was enough to separate the two sides. U's matchday reporter Daniel Racheter takes a closer look at the performance of members of the U's team. The versatile defender can also play centre half and will be a major boost to the Colchester back line as U’s boss Tony Humes rued the absence of defenders Okuonghae and Frankie Kent at last week’s game with Barnsley, which they lost 3-2.
Colchester went into the game with 18-year-old new signing Cole Kpekawa starting at left back after signing on a one month loan deal from Queens Park Rangers.
On this occasion, Okuonghae started the game alongside Tom Eastman despite speculation that he would be sidelined through injury but Frankie Kent watched from the sidelines as the game with Coventry came around too quick for the defender.
Coventry went into the game 20th in the table, two places below Colchester in 18th, having only won two of their last five games as Steven Pressley also looked to get back to winning ways at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Cole Kpekawa
Colchester started the game well in possession as Coventry barely touched the ball inside the first 5 minutes. Kpekawa got on the ball well with some nice touches as the home fans applauded him from the off.
The teenager wasn't afraid to get forward as he peeled off Coventry's O'Brien a few times and got into some good attacking areas but just fell short with his final ball a few times in the opening stages of the first half.
On ten minutes, Kpekawa burst past O'Brien leaving the player on the floor as he shrugged him off and curled a great cross in to the box but Coventry cleared the danger as Sears failed to get on the end of it. Quite a battle between Kpekawa and O’Brien this was turning out to be.
Defensively, he was a massive plus for Colchester especially when Nouble broke from a corner but Kpekawa was there as the last man and the defender tackled the striker brilliantly to deflate the pressure.
It was a very positive first half by the defender as he linked superbly with the midfield and tracked back comfortably under pressure and always made himself an option in attack.
George Moncur
George Moncur started his first home game since signing from West Ham United on a permanent deal. The midfielder yet again showed his class as he showed a few sublime touches on the ball and he linked up extremely well with Gilbey and Fox as he looked to break the deadlock in the first half.
Moncur and Fox pressed Coventry relentlessly but Sears found himself relatively alone upfront as the ball was whipped in from wide areas a lot in the first half but the Coventry defenders tracked the striker well.
Moncur almost put Colchester ahead as he turned Phillips from a throw but could only angle his shot just over the bar. The midfielder was everywhere in the first half and Coventry simply couldn't pick him up, especially Finch, as he ran rings round Coventry’s midfield with his exceptional work rate and movement on and off the ball.
Colchester started the second half the same as the first and dominated possession as they looked for a break through.
Kpekawa and Clohessy were particularly impressive as they stretched the play extremely well and put in some dangerous crosses as Coventry were struggling to hold on.
Kpekawa didn't see as much of the ball in the second half as most attacking threat come from full back Clohessy but the new signing contributed well defensively as he was more disciplined in the second half.
Colchester boss Tony Humes replaced Fox for Szmodics with 20 minutes left on the clock as he looked to get some fresh legs on in midfield after a great shift by the Fox alongside Moncur and Gilbey.
Moncur continued to be Colchester's bright spark again but more movement was needed up front by Sears as he was becoming more frustrated as the game went on.
Colchester however, found themselves behind on 74 minutes after Fleck got in behind the U’s defence and drilled a shot at Sam Walker which the keeper could only parry into the feet of Gary Madine who made no mistake of slotting it home.
The momentum was then with Coventry as they poured forward looking for a second and this time Tom Eastman blocked Madine's effort on the line and cleared the ball away from danger.
More injury problems then cropped up for Tony Humes as Okuonghae left the field on a stretcher in what was a frustrating afternoon for the home side, but positives can be taken by an encouraging debut from Kpekawa and another productive performance by Moncur.