STUART McCall admitted City did not do enough to beat Colchester after an opening-day goalless draw at Valley Parade.

Lee Novak had City’s best chances – and had an effort ruled out late on for a marginal offside against Clayton Donaldson after Billy Clarke played him through.

McCall said: “It was probably just onside but I can understand why the linesman flagged. It was so tight.

“It was a lovely move and on another day, he would have kept the flag down and we’d come away with a 1-0. But I’m not going to moan.

“I think it would be harsh on Colchester to say we deserved to win.

“Colchester are a dangerous team, so it was a bonus getting a clean sheet.

“I thought it was always going to be a tight game today and it proved that.

Richard O’Donnell made a good save from Jevani Brown while City sub Harry Pritchard was thwarted by Colchester keeper Dean Gerken.

McCall added: “That’s not a ‘my goodness me, what a shocking result’. They were in the play-offs last season and have added a couple of good players.

“They kept three up against the three and we always had to be vigilant at the back.

“We started well but they grew into it as we knew they would do.

“I was disappointed with the first 10 minutes of the second half, then we got back in charge but just didn’t have that clinical touch.

“We haven’t got a divine right to win games of football. I thought there were two decent sides out there and at times we cancelled each other out.”