Colchester United have drawn 0-0 at Crewe Alexandra

There was late drama though, with Frank Nouble having an injury time penalty saved by Will Jaaskelainen.

It was given for a foul by Nicky Hunt on Theo Robinson, who was then sent off for his reaction to the foul.

The game itself had seen chances for either side, but with the ninety minutes completed, it did seem like a share of the points was about right.

The game started with the hosts passing the ball around confidently, and finding spaces between the U’s defence and midfield.

They couldn’t create any early chances though, and the U’s quickly got a foothold in the game.

And it was the visitors who had the first real shot, with Kwame Poku’s eleventh minute effort blocked on the edge of the box.

Charlie Kirk did get a shot in a minute later, but it was a weak one and Dean Gerken saved comfortably.

Halfway through the first period, the U’s had two chances they feel they should have done better with.

First, Luke Norris got in on the right and pulled the ball back to Frank Nouble but he struck a first time effort well over the crossbar.

It was Norris himself that had the second effort, after capitalising on a poor pass.

He decided to hit a curling shot early, but Jaaskellainen was equal to it and saved.

As the U’s continued to create the better clear cut chances, despite the hosts having the more possession, Nouble shot at the home keeper from the angle.

The hosts did cause some problems for the U’s defence towards the end of the first half, but former U’s striker Chris Porter had a shot blocked and headed over from the resultant corner.

The last chance also went to Crewe, but Ryan Wintle couldn’t hit the target from outide the box.

Chances were shared in the early stages of the second half, with Poku’s shot saved and Kirk hitting the side netting from the angle.

Just after the hour mark, U’s skipper had to time a challenge perfectly, before Dale and Wintle both narrowly missed the target for the hosts.

Luke Gambin and Callum Harriott were introduced in place of Poku and Senior, and it was the U’s who finished stronger.

Nouble had a shot saved with four minutes remaining, before John McGreal made his final change by bringing on Theo Robinson for Norris.

And the Southend loanee was central to the late drama.

In an incident that few saw exactly what happened, home defender Nicky Hunt was on the floor and the home side were calling for action from the officials.

They got their wish, but the decision was a penalty for the U’s for what could only have been a foul by Hunt on Robinson.

A red card was shown to the U’s sub though, for presumably his reaction to being fouled.

There was a long delay before Nouble could take the penalty, and then Jaaskelainen guessed right as he dived left to push away the spot kick.

The final whistle went not long after the penalty save, and the game ended goalless.

It was a much improved performance from the U’s, and no one could have begrudged them all three points had the late penalty been scored.

An away point at the league leaders cannot be sniffed at though, and put the U’s in good spirits ahead of the weekend’s game against Newport County.