COLCHESTER United club captain, Chris Coyne, was devastated to miss out on a potential trip to Wembley, following Tuesday night's exit from the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United club captain, Chris Coyne, was devastated to miss out on a potential trip to Wembley, following Tuesday night's exit from the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

But Coyne took solace from the fact if any team was to beat the U's, then it should be his old club Luton Town.

“I'm pleased for Luton that they went through, but I'm deeply disappointed for us to lose this match,” confessed Coyne. The U's lost 1-0.

“We're all disappointed at missing out on a possible chance to reach Wembley. We conceded a sloppy goal but were unlucky not to get an equaliser. Unfortunately, that's part-and-parcel of football.

“I had six-and-a-half very good years at Luton, and I wish them all the best in this competition, and in trying to stay in the Football League.

“It would be good to see them stick it up at the FA.” added brash Aussie Coyne, with reference to Luton's 30-point deduction for going into administration and financial irregularities,

Luton, with ex-Colchester assistant Mick Harford in charge, are currently on minus six points in League Two, leaving them 16 points adrift of safety.

On Tuesday night they knocked out the U's at the southern area semi-final stage of the Trophy, thanks to a 29th minute goal from Claude Gnapka at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters will now play Brighton in a two-legged southern final, to earn the right for a trip to Wembley.

U's boss Paul Lambert made a surprise eight changes to his starting line-up, from last Saturday's excellent 2-1 win at Leeds United. But some of them were enforced.

Left-back Marc Tierney was cup-tied, defender Paul Reid was injured and Coyne himself was not feeling fit enough to start.

Coyne revealed: “I was feeling a bit under the weather, to tell you the truth.”

The Brisbane-born defender did not get much respite, however, because a nasty head injury to fellow centre-half Matt Heath meant that he was introduced as a substitute after just six minutes.

Coyne, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Saturday, made 252 senior appearances for Luton between 2001 and the start of this year.

And he was given a good reception by home supporters on his first competitive return to Kenilworth Road, since his £350,000 move to the U's last January.

The U's entertain promotion-chasing Scunthorpe United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this Saturday, hoping to chalk up only their third home win from 12 starts.