The visitors nearly struck early when Jack Payne flashed a shot across goal, while Omari Patrick saw Tranmere’s best first-half chance denied by Matt Macey.

After the break, Joe Ironside’s dipping effort was tipped over by the United keeper as Rovers pushed for an opener.

Colchester threatened on the counter and came close when Arthur Read’s strike rebounded off the post with Marko Marosi beaten.

But the decisive moment came after 75 minutes as Payne met an Owura Edwards cross and side-footed in from 10 yards, sealing United’s win and extending Tranmere’s run without victory to 10 games.

Wild, who is yet to see his side win or score a goal in his five games in charge, said: “The lads were brilliant again today, they showed plenty of desire and had some shots on target.

“But unless we are more ruthless in their box we are susceptible to a goal at the other end.

“They’ve given us everything they’ve got today but it’s not gone our way.

“We tested the goalkeeper and just like the last three games we’ve had lots of shots but no ruthless edge and it’s in both boxes that’s hurting the players at the moment.

“We’ve got to defend our box better and we’ve got to be more ruthless in their box and that’s the summary of the game.

“The amount of desire and effort they’ve put in today is ridiculous.

“I’m frustrated just like everybody else, but I know what I’m doing is working, but I can only do so much.

“I can’t go and defend in one box and I can’t go and put it in their box, that’s the bit I can’t do.”

Colchester manager Danny Cowley, whose side ended a run of five games without victory, said: “We came here and we expected the players to perform. I think we take satisfaction from the result if nothing else.

“We didn’t like ourselves in the first half, and credit to Tranmere, I thought they played with some good energy and we had to ride the storm at times.

“In the second half we were able to get more control and once we got the goal I felt we should maybe have scored a second.

“We’re pleased to win. We’ve had to play really well to win this season, but I think that’s the first time we’ve really had to grind out a result, so we’ll take the positives from that.

“We showed a fantastic work ethic and with five games to go we know how much the club means to our supporters.

“We know how challenging the season has been for us in many ways both on and off the pitch and we’re going to fight to the very end.”