Here are the thoughts of the chief protagonists from yesterday’s successful Colchester United relegation escape act, following the 1-0 win over Preston that secured the U’s League One status for another season.

U’s skipper David Fox: “It’s everything that you had hoped it would be.

We were realists, and I knew it would be tough, but we were always in with a chance.

“We’ve always given ourselves a chance this season, and that’s what we had today.

“The lads pulled out another performance when it really mattered, like in the previous game against Swindon (1-1 draw), but this time we got the result.

“The togetherness in the group, and the will and the desire amongst the boys, despite everything that has been going on, to put in those sort of performances has been terrific. They deserve great credit.”

U’s manager Tony Humes: “We didn’t take any notice of what was going on elsewhere, until the goal went in.

“Then you start thinking about where we are, with seven minutes to go plus injury-time.

“And then you get the message that if we see it out, then we are staying up!

“The players withstood a barrage, and withstood a battle. We had to do the job ourselves, to start with, and we did just that.”

U’s match-winner, and man-of-the-match, George Moncur: “There’s not a better feeling in the world than this one today.

“It’s my first season in League One, and to secure our safety in my first season, in that way, nothing comes close to it.

“There wasn’t much happening in the first half, because both teams were edgy, but obviously as the game opened up, you start getting more chances. We definitely deserved it.”

U’s centre-forward, Chris Porter: “I felt we were always in the game, and played really well, and for me it is a massive relief, having missed the penalty.

“I think we deserved to win.”