Jabo Ibehre has paid tribute to manager Joe Dunne, after his Colchester United side effectively guaranteed their League One status for another season with Saturday’s 4-1 win over Brentford.

Ibehre, with nine goals to his name this season, damaged his hamstring late on in Saturday’s big showdown, but he was in good spirits after the U’s staved off relegation for a second successive campaign.

“I’m pleased for the manager, who has put so much into the team,” enthused Ibehre. “It may have looked easy, but no game is easy in this league. That has been proved many times.

“Brentford are obviously a top side. They’ve done really well this season and all the players were on fire.

“So we knew we had to work very hard to get the result.

“I thought we blossomed, after taking our chances,” added Ibehre.

The U’s travel to mid-table Walsall for their final game of the season on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the U’s under-18s are away at Bradford City in the Youth Alliance National Cup Final at Valley Parade this evening (kick-off 7pm).

Bradford are the northern champions, while the U’s beat Portsmouth in the southern final.