KEITH Curle says he can understand fans' frustration after a number spilled onto the pitch at the final whistle to stage a mini protest.

Latics were booed off at half-time, when they trailed 2-0 to previously winless Colchester United, and again at full-time after Dylan Bahamboula's second goal of the season proved nothing more than a consolation.

But a small percentage went a step further. And less than a fortnight after fans staged a pitch invasion to celebrate a dramatic penalty shoot-out win in the Carabao Cup first round against Tranmere, they had a different motivation this time as chants of "We want Abdallah out" were aimed at the directors' box, with fans keen to influence a change of ownership for Latics.

"I understand everybody's frustration but that's what I'm here to deal with," said Curle, who was back on the touchline after his period of isolation and recovery from Covid.

"They shouldn't be on there and it will be something that the safety officers will address because of the headlines that it makes.

"I've seen it (the pitch invasion) and I fully understand the frustration, but what do you do?

"You work hard. We know we're down to the bare bones, but we're still fighting."

Latics were looking to bounce back from a run of three straight defeats in their opening games that had left them bottom of League Two.

But Colchester, who were also looking for their first win having picked up two points from a possible nine, were in front after just nine minutes when Davis Keillor-Dunn conceded a soft penalty against Brendan Wiredu and Freddie Sears converted.

Colchester doubled their lead just three minutes later through Noah Chilvers beat Laurie Walker with a low strike.

Latics had a mountain to climb and struggled to have an impact in the final third until a change of personnel and formation at the break.

Youngsters Harry Vaughan and Junior Luamba replaced Nicky Adams and Keillor-Dunn and gave Curle's side more impetus and energy, with Vaughan influential in the build-up to Dylan Bahamboula pulling a goal back.

But it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

"I'm disappoined, frustrated," said Curle.

"I think if you look at the bare facts of the game they had three shots and scored two goals, we had three shots and only scored one.

"We probably had the better chances.

"The penalty kills you. Nothing in the game, poor touch, referee says there's contact. I don't think enough of them would get given for us.

"The second goal is disappointing. But we showed good character and I thought the young lads who came on, little Harry Vaughan and Junior Luamba weren't fazed by it and injected a little bit of energy as well."