Colchester were outplayed and outclassed by Norwich as Paul Lambert left the Community Stadium with a 5-0 win.
Lambert enjoys winning return to Colchester
Colchester were outplayed and outclassed by Norwich as former boss Paul Lambert left the Community Stadium with a 5-0 win.
The hosts' defending was awful throughout and they were punished by a Norwich side gunning for the League One title.
They fell behind after 16 minutes when Chris Martin fired past Ben Williams after defender Danny Batth failed to clear.
Martin doubled his side's advantage on the stroke of half-time, before Gary Doherty made it 3-0 with an emphatic finish.
Magnus Okuonghae fouled Grant Holt in the box but Wes Hoolahan missed the spot-kick, although Oli Johnson heaped more misery on the hosts.
Holt rounded off the victory late on as former Norwich player Ian Henderson - on his Colchester debut - saw red for lunging at Darel Russell.
