CITY were frustrated as they opened the League Two campaign with a goalless draw against Colchester.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER has the match stats and player ratings from Valley Parade.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Reece Staunton was making his first league start but cut such a composed figure at the back and looked very assured on the ball when pushing upfield.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Lee Novak had to score when Dylan Mottley-Henry set him up for that glorious early chance.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Clayton Donaldson looked narrowly onside as he set up Lee Novak for what could have been City's "winner" in the second half.

TACTICS

Stuart McCall made one change from the team that won at Bolton with Dylan Mottley-Henry starting ahead of Tyler French on the right.

REFEREE: Ross Joyce (Middlesbrough)

BOOKINGS: Staunton (City); Welch-Hayes, Eastman (Colchester)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 4 Colchester 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 11 Colchester 8

FOULS COMMITTED: City 11 Colchester 16

CORNERS: City 6 Colchester 5

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: O’Donnell 7, A O’Connor 7, P O’Connor 7, Staunton 8, Mottley-Henry 5 (Ismail 73min), Cooke 6 (Pritchard 78min), Watt 7, Wood 7, Clarke 7, Novak 6, Guthrie 6 (Donaldson 73min). Subs (not used): Longridge, Richards-Everton, French, Hornby.

COLCHESTER: Gerken 7, Welch-Hayes 7, Smith 7, Eastman 7, Brammall 7, Stevenson 6, Pell 7, Chilvers 6 (Marshall 90min), Gambin 6 (Senior 67min), Brown 7, Poku 6 (Cowan-Hall 84min). Subs (not used): Sowunmi, Scarlett, Tovide, George.