Boothroyd proud of his players

COLCHESTER United boss Aidy Boothroyd is convinced his side will get back to winning ways sooner rather than later if they can replicate their impressive Easter Monday performance against Millwall.

The U’s may have ultimately lost 2-1 to the league’s most in-form side, but they were roundly applauded off the field at the end after playing some of their best football of the season.

Colchester’s form may read no wins and just three points from their last eight games, but Boothroyd is confident his side can claw their way back into the play-off places over the remaining seven matches.

“You have to take the positives out of it and I thought in the first half we were absolutely superb,” said the U’s boss. “That ranks as one of the top three performances from one of my teams.

“We made a very good team look very ordinary and I’m very encouraged that we can play like that.

“Overall it’s a very dejected dressing room, but I’ve just said to them that if they can do that again then we will finish very strongly.

“I’m very, very proud of my team. They gave their all and as a manager that’s all you can ask.

“Dropping out of the play-off places might take a bit of pressure off us. Spirit and resiliance is now key and we had that in abundance today.

“I’m a firm believer that persistence wins the day. We will be defiant and we will get out of the situation we are in.”