The month of December could be make-or-break for Colchester United.

The U’s face three of the bottom four teams in their next four matches, before and after Christmas.

So by the turn of the year, depending on results, Joe Dunne’s men could be making big advances up the League One table, or alternatively could be embroiled in a relegation battle.

Experienced midfielder, David Wright, recognises the importance of this month, when a tempting 12 points are up for grabs, especially following Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at strugglers Tranmere.

“December is a big month coming up,” insisted Wright.

“We were looking at the Tranmere game as being a springboard into this month, because we are playing a lot of teams in and around us.

“We can make good strides up the league, if we keep playing well.

“Tranmere was a frustrating day, but the good thing is that we are creating chances.

“We need to keep doing that, because I’m sure our luck will then change,” added Wright.

The U’s entertain basement dwellers Notts County in their next match, a week on Saturday, before travelling to Oldham Athletic before Christmas – the Latics are just one point and two positions better off than the 16th-placed U’s.

Fourth-from-bottom Stevenage are the visitors to the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Boxing Day, and third-from-bottom Crewe follow them into Essex just three days later.

Ex-Ipswich Town stalwart Wright insists that the U’s have to learn from their mistakes at Tranmere, especially the woeful defending from corners that led to a brace of goals for Ryan Lowe.

“The two goals we conceded were very poor. We can’t do that,” continued Wright.

“I don’t know why it happened in this match. We have to go away and look at it, and work on it, and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

“I believe Tranmere were there for the taking. If we had scored early on, the game would have turned on its head.

“We must individually and collectively defend better than what we did, especially from set-pieces, because I believe that we gifted them their goals.”