Mikael Mandron, bang in form after bagging four goals in five league matches during October, is hoping to continue this scoring trend in League Two this month, starting at Barnet tomorrow.
And the Frenchman, who was short-listed for the League Two player of the month award for October, earlier this week, is confident that the upwardly mobile U’s will go on to clinch promotion, if they can continue their recent good form in the league.
Away from League Two, the U’s have suffered a dismal week, exiting the FA Cup at the hands of non-league Oxford City last Saturday, and then bowing out of the Checkatrade Trophy with a 2-0 defeat at Southend on Tuesday evening.
But 14 points from a possible 21 in their last seven league matches has seen John McGreal’s men firing on all cylinders and up to 13th in the table, Mandron leading the way with some crunch goals.
“I think I’m finding my best form,” enthused Mandron, following yesterday’s training session at Florence Park, Tiptree.
“I hope that I can keep it going, and score more goals, and our results as a team have also been going well.
“As a striker, if you are scoring goals then the rest of your game tends to come together.
“You always do everything you can to help out the team, but as a striker scoring goals helps your confidence.
“I don’t think that I have a new swagger about me, no – all I try to do is work hard and try my best. I hope that I just stay the same.
“When you are playing well, things come more natural,” added Mandron.
A summer recruit from Wigan, 23-year-old Mandron, took time to settle in League Two having spent the first half of last season on loan at National League side Eastleigh.
The ex-Sunderland trainee scored just twice in his first 13 senior appearances, in the 1-1 draw against Stevenage and the 3-1 win over Crawley, but since then has netted four more goals in the last five league outings.
In fact, the U’s have never lost a game in which Mandron has found the back of the net. Last month, he scored in the 2-0 home win over Mansfield and the 2-1 victory at Newport, before bagging a brace in the 3-1 home win over Crewe a fortnight ago.
“It’s unfortunate what has gone on in the Cup, but we are top of the form table in the league, and it’s the league that has always been the main thing for us,” continued Mandron.
“If we keep our good form going throughout the season, then I see no problem in us getting promoted.
“I want us to put pressure on the teams above us, which is what we will do if we keep picking up points every game.
“Even if we can’t win away from home, we need to make sure that we pick up at least a point.”
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