Colchester United boss, Tony Humes, has called for more “bravery” from his players as the relegation-threatened U’s enter the final third of the season.

The U’s missed a chance to escape the bottom four on Tuesday night, when slithering to their seventh defeat in their last eight home league games, at the hands of MK Dons.

Humes’ men did not play badly in that game, and could count themselves unlucky to be edged out 1-0 by Dele Alli’s 44th minute winner for the promotion-chasing visitors.

It doesn’t get any easier for the U’s, who are now preparing to face the league leaders Bristol City, in another home game, tomorrow.

But with just 15 games to go, the U’s need to start winning again on home soil, to give themselves a fighting chance of staying in League One.

“We don’t go out there purposely to lose at home!” insisted Humes.

“It’s evident that we have got to do better at home, that’s evident, but that comes from belief and bravery, and everyone sticking together.

“It was a better performance from us (against MK Dons), but we have got to get something out of the game.

“There have maybe been two or three performances which have been below standard, and have been poor, but other than that I think the signs have been there all season.

“But these signs have to develop into something, they’ve got to develop into results.

“It’s about what happens on the day. I don’t think there was a massive difference between (play-off candidates) Oldham and us last Saturday (1-0 away win), and again there was not a massive difference between us and MK Dons on Tuesday.

“That’s where we have got to take that belief on, against Bristol City on Saturday. We have to battle and give it a go to get something out of the game.

“We haven’t managed to get out of the bottom four, that hasn’t happened, but we’ve got to get on with it again.

“We’ve got to pick the players up again, and believe that we can get something out of it.

“Where we are at the moment, we’ve got to believe and we’ve got to have brave players who want to get on the ball and make things happen. We have got to do that.

“Bristol City are the league leaders, but that’s what we have to deal with. People have got to believe in what we are doing, whoever we are playing against,” added Humes.

David Fox did not appear for the second half against MK Dons, due to soreness in the groin and hip area, so he is a doubt for this weekend’s clash.

But on the plus side, midfielders Alex Gilbey and George Moncur returned as second-half substitutes against the Dons, following an ankle injury and tonsillitis respectively.

Humes confirmed: “Alex (Gilbey) has come on and looked a very good player out there. We have missed his composure on the ball, and how he wants to try and dictate games.

“We’ve also missed George (Moncur) getting on the ball again, so it was lovely to have them both back.”