COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd admitted Kayode Odejayi's dramatic injury-time winner against Carlisle last night was probably offside.

Stuart Watson

COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd admitted Kayode Odejayi's dramatic injury-time winner against Carlisle last night was probably offside.

The visiting players surrounded the referee when the U's super-sub slammed home from close range after Ian Handerson's overhead kick fell to him kindly in the box.

And Boothroyd conceded that, while he felt his side just about deserved the victory, it was a stroke of fortune that handed them all three points.

"I was jumping up and down delighted at the end, but I think it might have been offside.

"These things happen and it's unfortunate for Carlisle, but I don't think anyone can argue that we didn't deserve it what with the chances we had in the second half.

"That sort of thing will happen to us later in the season and I won't moan about it when it does because I know these things even themselves out."

Colchester were booed off at half-time when they trailed 1-0 to Ian Harte's header and the U's boss' decision to replace Steven Gillespie with Odejayi just before the hour mark proved equally unpopular with the home crowd.

"I think for the first 60 minutes of the game we were pretty average," admitted Boothroyd.

"The boos and the whinges and the shouts of 'Boothroyd you don't know what you're doing' came out and they were right - it was dire.

"I didn't think it was anything tactical at half-time, we just lacked energy and it was a bit lacklustre.

"We made a couple of changes though, it was a terrific finish to the game and I thought we deserved it.

"That's only the second game we have come back from a goal down to go on a win and if we are going to get promotion then we will need to show character like that."

Meanwhile, the U's boss confirmed that Kevin Lisbie was rested due to a combination of minor injuries, while Paul Reid and Christian Ribeiro should be fit for next Monday's visit of Southend.