COLCHESTER United manager Joe Dunne hailed his players, after a battling 2-1 victory at Bury this afternoon, achieved with just 10 men for 86 minutes of normal time and six minutes of injury-time.

Goals from Josh Thompson and Clinton Morrison, only his second of the season, cancelled out U’s old boy Craig Fagan’s 26th minute opener.

And that all came after winger George Porter had been sent off after just four minutes, for violent conduct.

The U’s rode their luck in a one-sided second period, but held out, thanks in part to a marvellous display of goalkeeping from Sam Walker.

“It was a remarkable win, in every sense of the word,” enthused Dunne.

“Today, at breakfast, we spoke about the players playing who were only 50% fit (due to a virus). We also had to leave five or six at home,

“But they gave their all.

“We rode our luck, let’s be honest, but for all Bury’s chances - and they did have a hell of a lot - we’ll take it because the courage and commitment I think deserved it,” added Dunne.