LUKE Norris admits bagging a brace on his first league start of the season for Colchester United was 'nothing to celebrate' following their defeat at Carlisle United.

The striker marked his return to the U's starting line-up with two goals but still ended up on the losing side, after they lost 3-2 at Brunton Park.

Norris, who had been sidelined with a knee injury, is now back in the fold but admits his two-goal salvo at Carlisle was spoilt by the result.

Norris told BBC Essex: "Personally, I didn't think I was anywhere near it myself.

"It was nice to score two goals but it's always the result that you look at.

"Scoring two is nice but it's nothing that I'm going to celebrate, at all - we went home with zero points."

Norris admits Colchester cannot afford to dwell on the disappointment of their defeat at Carlisle, where they recovered a two-goal deficit only to lose.

The U's are back in action tomorrow night at home to Forest Green Rovers - and striker Norris says that is a good thing.

"It's one defeat in six league games and that's not bad at all," said former Swindon Town forward Norris.

"It's a much better start than we had last season and we can build on it.

"We've got another game on Tuesday which is great - we're back at home in the next two games and we'll be looking to bounce back there and put it right.

"Our schedule for the next four or five games is pretty hectic but that's what's coming with everything that's going on in the outside world.

"All of the games have been squeezed into a tight schedule, so we're used to it now.

"We've got a big enough squad for it so I think all 20-odd players will be used."

Colchester fell behind to goals from Lewis Alessandra and Jon Mellish inside the opening half hour, at Carlisle.

And although Norris's double pulled it back to 2-2, Aaron Hayden struck with nine minutes remaining to win it for the Cumbrians.

Norris added: "We were really disappointed.

"We started very poorly in the first 35 minutes or so, when we were nowhere near it.

"It's not like us and we normally start very well - it's something we've got to address for the next game.

"We were the cause of all of our own problems and everyone was accountable for it, all over the pitch.

"They pressed us really high and we didn't do what we normally do.

"We found ourselves two goals down with a mountain to climb.

"We got back into it just before half-time and started the second half really well.

"We got the equaliser and looked like we were on top but then there was just a bombardment of set-pieces from them and we couldn't really get out of it.

"It was disappointing to get back into the game and then concede like that."