COLCHESTER United will have to improve the way they react to falling a goal behind, if they are to make headway in League One this season.That's the opinion of Clive Platt, who scored 27 goals in 102 league appearances for MK Dons - today's opponents to the Community Stadium.

Carl Marston

Headline - U's must be more resilient>

COLCHESTER United will have to improve the way they react to falling a goal behind, if they are to make headway in League One this season.

That's the opinion of Clive Platt, who scored 27 goals in 102 league appearances for MK Dons - today's opponents to the Community Stadium.

“The U's have lost each of the three games that they have trailed in this season - at Hartlepool and Crewe in the league, and at Ipswich in the Carling Cup.

Platt insisted: “We have to learn that we're not going to score the first goal in every match.

“The important thing is how we react when we concede a goal. We didn't do that at Crewe. We have to be big enough to rise above that and keep being positive.”

It's nearly a year since Colchester last came from behind to win a game. The occasion was a 3-2 home win over West Brom on October 20, 2007, when Geraint Williams' men rallied after conceding a sixth minute opener from Kevin Phillips.

Mark Yeates levelled just two minutes later. Kevin Lisbie also netted before the break and Yeates went on to score the winner from the penalty spot.

MK Dons have also had difficulty responding to conceding the opening goal in matches. Their four defeats to date have all been suffered after leaking the first goal, against Oldham, Swindon and Leicester in the league, and at Cardiff in the Carling Cup.

It's been all change already for the Dons this season, following Paul Ince's departure for Blackburn Rovers over the summer, and the arrival of Roberto Di Matteo as the new manager.

Ince guided the Milton Keynes club to promotion from League Two last season, and now ex-Chelsea midfielder Di Matteo is hoping to carry on the good work.

He signed winger Donal McDermott from Manchester City last week, and the 18-year-old made his debut as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat at league leaders Oldham last Saturday. He could start against the U's today.