TOWN were left to wonder ‘what if?’ as Colchester put up the shutters on an afternoon of frustration at the ’Pharm.

What if Jamie McCombe’s header, Lee Novak’s shot or Joey Gudjonsson’s free-kick had gone in?

What if top scorer Jordan Rhodes hadn’t been forced off with an ankle injury which looks set to keep him out for a month?

And what if former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Williams hadn’t been in such inspired form?

Town needed Ian Bennett to make two late saves from substitute Kayode Odejayi to preserve a point.

But a Colchester win would have been harsh in the extreme after a game Town dominated.

The stats show 15 Town efforts on target to Colchester’s three, eight to three off target and 15 corners to two.

And that reflects the pattern of play as Town pressed forward but just couldn’t find a way past the well-organised Essex side.

This certainly wasn’t Lee Clark’s side at their fluent best, but it was a big improvement on Carlisle.

The manager made three changes from Brunton Park, bringing in Alan Lee, Gary Roberts and Gudjonsson with Tom Clarke, Antony Kay and Novak on the bench.

Kevin Kilbane was switched to left-back as Town, a touch tentative early on, came oh so close in the 21st minute when McCombe met Anthony Pilkington’s free-kick with a firm header, only for Williams to dive low to his left and collect.