Steve Evans pointed his finger firmly in the direction of the players and their warm-up after a disappointing draw at Colchester United.

The Boro boss was not happy with the start of the contest which saw them go a goal down in six minutes.

Danny Rose equalised to give them a 1-1 draw but it was not the result or manner of performance wanted against the hosts who slipped to the bottom of the League Two table.

Evans said: "We have to be disappointed. As a senior management team, we saw the warm-up was a shambles.

"The staff came in and they weren’t happy with the warm-up so we tried to address it with a bit of positivity but we took the warm-up into the first 15 minutes. 

"People were kicking fresh air, people were not winning headers and giving it away when it is just a simple thing to control it in the middle of the park. 

"It’s tough then to grind your way into it but we were dominant after that. 

"We did enough to win but we didn’t."

There were still chances to get their noses in front with a deflection from a Luke Norris shot hitting the bar in the first half and then Carl Piergianni striking a post in stoppage time at the end of the game.

Evans also felt a blocked shot in the second period was done by a hand but he was still disappointed.

He said: "We told them at half-time to forget the first 15 minutes and concentrate on how we finished the half. 

"But the second half we were too direct and the quality on the ball wasn’t good enough. 

"I need to look back on why we didn’t have a penalty for handball in the second half but we have to worry about ourselves and do a lot more. 

"It’s certainly two points left behind. 

"We were going gung-ho to win the game late on so you are always going to give them chances. 

"They have good players but we should win this." 

The result dropped the home side to the foot of the table but their supporters were relatively happy.

Evans only has eyes on his own team though, as well as milestone birthday for himself.

"I only look at ourselves," he said. "I have enough mental issues dealing with my own group. 

"We have a lot of work to do if we are going to remain in that top group. 

"I’ve looked at the results and if you are in that top three or four, teams are up to play against you. 

"We had to endure that at Doncaster and Gillingham and here. 

"My only focus when I get home is to have a few beers because I’m 60 tomorrow. 

"But I won’t be outrageous. We’re back in on Monday and then on Tuesday we have a behind closed door game with a Championship club. 

"Then the sole focus after that will, quite rightly, be going to Gateshead and trying to stay in the FA Cup.

"We have to prepare properly for that because we were a bit under it in wholly respecting Gillingham two weeks ago and we were under it again [against Colchester]. 

"Both warm-ups against Gillingham and Colchester were poor."