Late goals from Richard Garcia and Jamie Cureton meant the Black Cats suffered their first Championship defeat of 2007, after Dwight Yorke had cancelled out Wayne Brown's first-half header.

However, Keane was not feeling too downbeat after the defeat.

He said: "We're disappointed to lose but it's still in our hands and we'll try and bounce back next week.

"When we got back to 1-1 we thought we could get something from the game but it wasn't to be.

"I have no problem with the effort and desire we showed and you have to give credit to the opposition."

Colchester boss Geraint Williams was a happy man after the Us enhanced their hopes after making the play-offs and extended their unbeaten run to six matches.

"It was an excellent win against a very very good side," he said.

"For the first 15 minutes of the first half we were under pressure and Sunderland scored a deserved equaliser but our players never know when they're beaten.

"Everyone was magnificent for us today and it was a great advert for the Championship."

Sunderland looked threatening in patches in the opening stages, with Daryl Murphy looking the more likely to break down Colchester's steely defence.

However, the Us almost netted through Garcia, whose header was plucked out of the air by Black Cats keeper Darren Ward.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first half, though Colchester keeper Dean Gerken had to be at his best to palm David Connolly's low shot around the post.

But the leaders were rocked in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Colchester skipper Karl Duguid won a free-kick on the right edge of the area and Kevin Watson's delivery was headed in powerfully in by the unmarked Brown for his first goal of the season.

But after Gerken had saved well at his near post from Murphy, Sunderland were back on level terms in the ninth minute of the second half.

Just seconds after Grant Leadbitter had been denied by Gerken, Yorke rose to head in Murphy's cross to equalise.

What followed was an absorbing affair between two well-matched teams but it was Colchester who went on to win.

With eight minutes to go, Garcia turned and fired exquisitely into the bottom corner after Colchester substitute Hogan Ephraim had shown good composure to pick him out in the area.

Seven minutes later, a breathless run at the heart of the Sunderland defence by substitute Jamie Guy led to Dean Whitehead clumsily knocking Cureton over in the area.

Cureton scored the penalty which secured three points for the home side.