MK Dons counterpart Paul Warne backed Cowley's view, telling BBC Three Counties Radio: "All the managers are saying the same thing, the schedule is just a joke." And he was unhappy with the loss of injured Marvin Ekpiteta as well as the penalty decision which led to Colchester's winner. The physical demands on the players were compounded by a bouncy pitch at the Jobserve Community Stadium. The U's are now ninth, three points outside the play-off places, and four adrift of MK Dons, who are sixth despite their first defeat in five games. He added: "The pitch was dry as a bone so it [the ball] was just bouncing around everywhere and no team really put their foot on it.

Source: BBC January 02, 2026 23:10 UTC