Colchester United have fallen to a 5-0 defeat against Forest Green Rovers in the latest Sky Bet League Two action.
The U's and Forest Green looked evenly matched in the first half, although the hosts edged it with a late goal to lead at the break.
But an early red card in the second half saw the travelling side struggle, as Jay Mingi was dismissed with a second yellow. McAlliser, Taylor and Stevens (2) added further goals as the U's were well beaten.
Ben Garner made two changes to the eleven that started against Morecambe last weekend, with Tom Smith and Tom Hopper coming in.
Smith stood in for Goodman who was away on England duty, while Tovide dropped to the bench. But the formation remained the same for the U’s with Hall, Mitchell and Egbo making up a back three. Jay Mingi, Cameron McGeehan and Noah Chilvers were the midfield trio with Fevrier and Kazeem on the wings, as Hopper and Taylor lead the attack.
Forest Green started the brighter of the two in the opening fifteen minutes, and perhaps should have taken the lead after Tom Smith was quickly closed down by Troy Deeney. The hosts wasted the opportunity, shooting high over the bar and stand, as Jay Mingi picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for a foul moments beforehand.
Colchester United were handed an opportunity to open the scoring with just over half an hour gone after Bernard was deemed to have passed the ball back to Belshaw who collected. McGeehan was the man to take the shot from the indirect free kick, but a whole host of Rovers players were able to block on the line.
However, it was the hosts that got their noses in front as Callum Morton netted the opener. Omotoye took aim from the edge of the penalty area, with his bouncing effort causing issues for Smith, as Morton followed up to convert from close range.
Kyle McAllister and Cameron McGeehan were both issues yellow cards in the last five minutes of the half, with Tom Smith called into action to deny Morton and Rovers a second before the break – the U’s trailed by a single goal after forty-five minutes.
Ben Garner made two changes at half time. Tom Dallison returned to action for the first time in a couple of months, with Tovide also coming on – Joe Taylor and Al-Amin Kazeem were withdrawn.
The U’s could have been back on level terms within sixty seconds of the restart when Hopper’s header had to be cleared off the line by Frankaty Dabo. But the challenge only got harder as the U’s were reduced to ten in the forty-seventh.
Jay Mingi picked up a second yellow card and was sent off for a naïve challenge on Omotoye who was breaking for the hosts.
Colchester were pressing hard for an equaliser in the contest, but soon found themselves two goals down after McAllister was able to double their advantage. A quick break from the hosts saw Deeney move the ball on to McAllister who shot across goal into the corner to make it 2-0 with twenty-five minutes to play.
Tom Smith prevented further damage three minutes later when Omotoye sprung the offside trap, getting his arm in the way of a goal-bound effort.
Ben Garner responded with another two changes as Bradley Ihionvien and Mauro Bandeira were brought on. They replaced Noah Chilvers and Tom Hopper for the final fifteen minutes.
Matty Taylor soon did more damage to the scoreline though, adding a third with just over ten to play. He ran through from a loose ball in the middle to smash under Smith.
Another substitute added the fourth a minute later with Matty Stevens converting from close range.
Stevens added a fifth in stoppage time.
The U’s face a trip to League One Cambridge United on Tuesday evening in the next group match of the EFL Trophy.
Forest Green Rovers starting XI: Belshaw, Lavinier, Bernard, McAllister (Robertson 75’), Deeney (Stevens 75’), Maddox (Jenks 67’), Welch, Omotoye, Dabo, Bunker, Morton (Taylor 75’).
Subs: Searle, Jenks, Stevens, M. Taylor, Bendle, Robson, Robertson.
Colchester United starting XI: Smith, Hall, Chilvers (Bandeira 75’), McGeehan, Hopper (Ihionvien 75’), Mitchell, Egbo, Mingi, J. Taylor (Tovide 46’), Kazeem (Dallison 46’), Fevrier.
Subs: Hornby, Greenidge, Dallison, Bandeira, Tovide, Cooper, Ihionvien.
Attendance: 2,137 (278)