Steve Evans pointed at Stevenage's lack of luck again against Colchester but admitted they didn't perform as well as they could.

Relegation-threatened Colchester had taken the lead on 18 minutes and it needed an Alex Gilbey equaliser two minutes after the interval to salvage a 1-1 draw for Boro.

But with both Luke Norris and Terence Vancooten having been taken off with injuries, the one to Norris looking a season-ending ankle problem, Boro had a goal disallowed as the referee penalised Jordan Roberts for a foul on the goalkeeper.

That was tough to take for the Boro boss.

"We’re obviously disappointed," he said. "We started really well and we should score with all the play that we had, all the dominance.

"But then a sloppy touch in the middle of the park gave them a free-kick and we concede.

"And then we lost our way and it wasn’t that Colchester were better, but the game just became poor. 

"We regrouped at half-time and got a great start to the second half but for me, we just have to do better when we’re in great areas. 

"We need a lot better quality in the final third. 

"But sometimes we need a break and the goalkeeper comes and drops it. 

"I've just watched it, he comes and drops it and we tap it in but the referee says that it’s a foul."

Pressure plays a part but Evans felt his team just needed to relax and play their football. 

And they have to take their chances when they come.

He said: "We spoke about calmness like we had at Northampton, even though there we were chasing the game. 

"Goals change games and you can see the whole ground were in shock when it went in but we should defend it much better. 

"Jordan Roberts should score as well at the end. It's a simple header for Jordan and he gets all wrong." 

And the injuries follow the loss of another goalkeeper, Thimothee Lo-Tutala becoming the seventh stopper of the year.

"I've never had a season where we're getting things thrown against us like we are," said Evans. "It’s like gale force winds with the goalkeepers and Luke Norris today and others. 

"It's been hard but we’ll freshen it up as best we can and go to Hartlepool, who had a great result today, and we’ll see if we can come back still competing for the top three."