Theo Robinson's brace helped Colchester United condemn Leyton Orient to a 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at the Breyer Group Stadium.

The O's fell behind to Robinson's opener shortly before the break, and Harry Pell doubled the visitors' advantage midway through the second period.

Ruel Sotiriou's first Football League goal gave Orient some late hope, but Robinson completed his double in stoppage time to send the points back to Essex.

Myles Judd missed out for the hosts after his red card against Cambridge United on Saturday, while Conor Wilkinson and Joe Widdowson remained out through injury. James Dayton came in to start in Judd's place, which saw James Brophy move into defence.

Colchester looked the stronger of the two sides from the off and had the first major chance of the game when Pell's header was cleared off the line. 

The visitors took the lead in the 41st minute when Kwame Poku charged down the right wing and drilled a ball to the back post, where the waiting Robinson was able to simply tap home.

Orient could have levelled the game before the break, but Lee Angol could only head wide from an inviting Jordan Maguire-Drew cross.

Heroics from Sam Sargeant had kept Orient in the game when they secured three points at Cambridge earlier in the week, and the keeper made another good stop 10 minutes into the second half, keeping out Luke Gambin's powerful drive.

Sargeant was beaten shortly after, though. He did well to keep out a deflected effort, but the ball landed kindly for Pell and he slotted home the loose ball.

The introduction of Sotiriou for Dan Happe after 72 minutes brought about more positivity going forward for the O's, and the young Cypriot certainly staked a claim for more regular minutes by bagging his first league goal for the club.

An effort from Maguire-Drew was kept out by Dean Gerken, but sub Sotiriou was there to provide the finish and give Orient a chance.

It was a chance they couldn't take though, and just minutes later as the game entered stoppage time, Robinson struck again from close range to restore Colchester's two-goal lead and seal the points for them.

Defeat leaves Orient 18th in the League Two table ahead of this Sunday's trip to Newport County, which kicks off at 3pm.