Michael Mifsud scored another valuable goal as Coventry City recorded only their second win in nine games.
The Malta international struck with just nine minutes left in very poor game.
There looked little on when Mifsud cut in from the right before letting fly with a shot which took a small deflection on its way past Aidan Davison.
The game ended in controversy when former England international Teddy Sheringham was red carded to directing an elbow aimed at Coventry skipper Michael Doyle.
Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie will have been pleased to see a match after a week of speculation that he may be on his way to Leicester City and endless takeover talks.
The Coventry manager made changes after the comprehensive midweek defeat at the hands of Watford, but again there was not noticeable reaction from his players as they struggled to really break Colchester down.
They had more of the ball but their play in the final third let them down all too often.
In fact it was the visitors - who started the day one point behind Coventry - that made the first impression when Kemal Izzet fired over the bar in only the second minute.
Coventry then began to get a grip on midfield and for a while forced Colchester back into their own half but without really making their superiority count.George Elokobi was enjoying a battle royal with little Mifsud and, by and large, was handling the Malta international.
Colchester may have had less of the ball but carved out the best chance of the first half when, in the 19th minute Danny Granville beat Mifsud and crossed in for Clive Platt whose glancing header forced Andy Marshall into a save.
Granville then went closer when his floated cross threatened to float over the keeper and into the net.
Both managers made early changes but, while the urgency increased, the quality didn't.
Coventry did continue to press and were rewarded when Mifsud provided a much-needed flash of inspiration.
That opened the game up and a frantic final few minutes was capped by Sheringham's red mist moment.