Danny Cowley saluted in-form Colchester after their 1-0 home win over Chesterfield lifted them closer to the League Two play-off places.
John-Kymani Gordon’s 59th-minute close-range header from Jack Payne’s fine delivery sealed victory for the U’s, who are now six points off the top seven after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches.
Boss Cowley said: “It was a really hard fought, brilliant win. I’m really proud of the players. I thought their will tonight was incredible.
“We were the better side in the first half and we got into some really good moments.
“We couldn’t quite find that final action but when you consider we were without Teddy Bishop, we lost Arthur Read to illness at half-time, two of our centre midfielders in a game against Chesterfield who like to come and overload you in central areas and in wide areas.
“I thought the boys stuck to the task and we were really well supported by our brilliant supporters – they stayed with us through the whole game.
“It was a great header by JK Gordon. The pitch is incredibly difficult, probably the worst that I’ve had to prepare a team for but it’s our pitch.
“It might be a difficult pitch but it’s a pitch that we’re finding good form on and we are really enjoying playing here.”
Colchester were worthy of their win, with Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Boot twice denying Payne and also saving well from Ellis Iandolo.
Chesterfield midfielder Bailey Hobson saw his effort saved by U’s goalkeeper Matt Macey before half-time.
But a bad night for the Spireites, who are without a win in four, was compounded in the 89th minute when striker Paddy Madden was shown a red card for a foul on Colchester substitute Samson Tovide.
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb said: “It’s a common theme at the minute. The scoreline doesn’t lie.
“It’s a really disappointing run at the minute and we haven’t come away from any game recently thinking ‘we should have won that’ or ‘we should have got a draw’.
“You’re hoping something drops to us at the end and the lads worked their socks off but it wasn’t very good.
“We want clean sheets, we want to score goals and we’re not really doing either.
“It was a real shame for those supporters who came tonight and those who watched it from home.
“We’re in a period now where I should imagine a lot of people are thinking ‘just end the season’ but there are still a lot of games to go, so we need to liven up.
“We do not want a sad, flat end to the season – we want something for the supporters to sing about.”
[(Estrela Amadora) Strength]: 1. Estrela Amadora are motivated to secure their first win of the season in this home game.2. Estrela Amadora won the previous two games in AH, boasting a commendable trend.[(Estrela Amadora) Weakness]: 1. Estrela Amadora lost 1-0 to SL Benfica in the last game at home. They started the new season poorly, with only 1 draw and 1 loss.2. Estrela Amadora conceded in the ...
[(CR Flamengo (RJ)) Strength]: 1. CR Flamengo (RJ) forward Pedro Guilherme scored a goal in the last game, showing his outstanding form.2. CR Flamengo (RJ) won 2-0 over SC Internacional in the last game, securing a 5-game winning streak across all competitions and showing hot form.3. CR Flamengo (RJ) boasted remarkable defense lately, conceding only one goal in the last 3 games.4. With excellent o...
[(Estudiantes de La Plata) Strength]: 1. Estudiantes de La Plata have performed well at home. In the last 6 home games, they have achieved 4 wins and 2 draws.2. Estudiantes de La Plata have managed to keep clean sheets in four of their last six home games, demonstrating a decent defensive performance at home.3. In the last 16 home league matches of Estudiantes de La Plata, as many as 10 games saw ...
[(Eyupspor) Strength]: 1. Eyupspor have suffered two consecutive defeats at the start of the new season. This time, playing at home, Eyupspor are highly motivated and urgently need points to reverse the decline and avoid three consecutive losses at the beginning of the season.2. Eyupspor relied heavily on home games to score points. Last season, their home record ranked 9th in the Turkish Super Li...
[(Club Atletico Belgrano) Strength]: 1. Club Atletico Belgrano have achieved a record of 5 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss in their last 11 official matches, demonstrating a decent ability to grab points.2. Club Atletico Belgrano have conceded only one goal in their last four official matches, demonstrating a solid defense.3. Club Atletico Belgrano have conceded only two goals after five rounds of the Ar...
[(Athletic Bilbao) Strength]: 1. Athletic Bilbao won the first La Liga game in the new season and are eager to continue winning. Thus, they will go all out in this home game.2. Athletic Bilbao beat Sevilla FC 3-2 in the first league game at home in the new season, starting with a win. They boasted a 46% possession rate, 14 shots with 3 on target, and 3 goals scored.3. Athletic Bilbao scored in 5 o...
[(FC Orenburg) Strength]: 1. Jordhy Thompson scored two goals in the latest game, demonstrating a rather excellent form.2. FC Orenburg drew 2-2 with FC Akhmat Grozny in their last match and have achieved a record of 2 wins and 1 draw in their last 3 games, showing a decent overall performance.3. FC Orenburg won their last 5 games in AH.[(FC Orenburg) Neutral]: 1. FC Orenburg have achieved 1 win, 3...
[(Sunderland A.F.C.) Strength]: 1. Sunderland A.F.C. were eliminated by their opponents in the first round of the EFL Cup last season. This season, the team have been promoted to the Premier League and have strengthened their lineup. They are highly motivated to compete in the EFL Cup this season.2. Sunderland A.F.C.'s main center-back Daniel Ballard has been in excellent form recently. He average...
[(Newcastle United F.C.) Strength]: 1. Newcastle United F.C. failed to get off to a winning start in the first round of the new season's league. The team are currently eager to win. If Newcastle United F.C. can secure all three points in this home game against defending champions Liverpool F.C., it will boost their morale. The team are motivated.2. In the last three seasons that Newcastle United F...
[(FC Kairat Almaty) Strength]: 1. In the first leg between the two teams, FC Kairat Almaty secured a 0-0 draw on the road. Thus, they are undoubtedly motivated to win this home game to enter the Champions League.2. Dastan Satpaev scored 3 goals and made an assist in the previous 7 Champions League qualifiers, being important on the team's offense.3. FC Kairat Almaty received 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 ...
- 1 Ruben Amorim gives cryptic response when asked about Andre Onana returning to starting XI for Fulham clash after Altay Bayindir blunder handed Arsenal victory
- 2 'Victory Bodes Well for Future' – Gasperini Delighted with Roma’s Opening Day Win
- 3 TIPS - Eintracht Frankfurt VS Werder Bremen
- 4 Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal could turn to Lyon's Fofana
- 5 TIPS - Cerezo Osaka VS Vissel Kobe
- 6 TIPS - Gamba Osaka VS Yokohama FC
- 7 TIPS - Schalke 04 VS VfL Bochum
- 8 TIPS - Sunderland A.F.C. VS Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
- 9 Antony’s Man United Exit Hopes Rest on Fresh Real Betis Bid Within 'Next 24 Hours'
- 10 TIPS - Olympique de Marseille VS Paris FC