It was a tale of two penalties on Monday night as the U's slipped to a narrow defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

The U's were made to work hard for possession as the Spaniards moved the ball around with a mixture of grace and steel, and looked like they might get a draw thanks to Scott Vernon's penalty.

However, the Spanish side edged them out in the end as they also scored from the spot, having earlier been reduced to ten men.

The U's made a number of changes to the side that played against Norwich at the weekend as boss Geraint Williams not only rested one or two players ahead of the Hartlepool game, but gave others the chance to get match fitness under their belt.

After a rapturous welcome for the two teams as they ran out, the crowd were quiet in the early stages, perhaps in awe at their new surroundings as it opened its doors for the first time.

With nine minutes on the clock though, the U's fans got behind their team though with the noise rippling right around the ground as it moved from one stand to the next.

That set of cheers died quickly in the throat though as Bilbao worked their first opening, Aduriz bearing down on goal and, instead of shooting, squared it to Del Olmo who was unable to reach the ball.

The U's fans were just reflecting on that chance when Bilbao went close again. This time it was captain Lopez, who fizzed a fierce shot wide of the goal.

In general though, the match was struggling to find its groove early on, before Bilbao finally took the lead with eighteen minutes on the clock.

Again it was a well crafted move that sent the Spaniards away and Aduriz was the man to finish off the move this time, slotting the ball under Gerken and into the net.

The U's almost responded immediately as a big diagonal was sent across to the left, where Perkins won his header and it fell just short of the onrushing Izzet, where keeper Lafuente was able to claim.

Aldekoaotalora fouled Gillespie who, like at Norwich at the weekend, opened his legs to show his pace down the left. And slowly the U's were getting to the speed of the game.

However, Bilbao remained dangerous on the break and Del Olmo was at the heart of much of their good work.

The U's were having to rely on bits and pieces going forward as the Spanish retained the ball well.

But they were given a lifeline on 34 minutes when Gillespie wriggled his way free down the left and his cross was knocked back to Yeates. He shaped up a half volley which was blocked by the hand of Aldekoaotalora.

The penalty was given and Vernon, who had scored the last Colchester goal at Layer Road in the game against Ipswich, stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and draw the scores level.

Gillespie was playing on the shoulder throughout, always looking for the chance to get away from the Bilbao back line, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.

And the equaliser had lifted the U's, who were starting to see more of the ball, but they still had to see off a late Bilbao flurry as half time approached.

The U's made five changes at the break, with Cousins, Wordsworth, Elito, Reid and White coming on for Gerken, Jackson, Coyne, Yeates and Lockwood. White was given the honour of the captaincy after the break.

And the changes were making a difference as the U's were seeing somewhat more of the ball - Perkins in particular thriving in a more central role.

Just after the hour mark White sent over a dangerous cross that was knocked back to Gillespie, but it fell too close to the U's record signing to allow him to generate full power on the shot.

The end of the first half had seen Coyne and his opponent clash and exchange words and just before the midway point of the second half, both sides squared up after Izzet fouled his man.

The fracas ended with Murillo seeing red for part in the coming together, and the U's would play the last quarter against ten men.

Further changes came before play properly restarted - Izzet, Vernon and Gillespie coming off and three eventually went on, with Hammond and Wasiu the replacements latterly joined by Platt.

The sending off again lifted the crowd as the whole ground roused to a set of chants which showed the potential of the new ground to raise an atmosphere.

More controversy came as Reid and his opponent clashed in the penalty area, shortly after Del Olmo had fired in a low shot to Cousins' near post.

Fifteen minutes were left when Bilbao made their first change and the U's their latest - James Hammond coming on for Heath with skipper White slotting in at centre back.

The feistiness continued though, with niggles across the pitch, but the U's were left with their heads in their hands as the visitors were given a late penalty after a foul by James Hammond. Lopez made no mistake as he sent Cousins the wrong way.

The visitors had probably just merited the win on possession alone but the U's did not go down without a fight at the death as Elito finally saw some of the ball to get at his man.

They finished with a series of corners and Wasiu climbed highest for the last of those, stretching all the time as he sent his header wide of the far post.

U's: Gerken (Cousins 46), Ifil, Coyne (Reid 46), Heath (Hammond (J) 77), Lockwood (White 46), Yeates (Wordsworth 46), Jackson (Elito 46), Izzet (Hammond 61), Perkins, Vernon (Platt 61), Gillespie (Wasiu 61)