DON'T give up hope! That's the cry from Layer Road despite Colchester United failing to win at home for the ninth successive game.The U's are now marooned at the foot of the Championship table by three points, following their 2-2 home draw against Bryan Robson's Sheffield United on Saturday.

Carl Marston

DON'T give up hope! That's the cry from Layer Road despite Colchester United failing to win at home for the ninth successive game.

The U's are now marooned at the foot of the Championship table by three points, following their 2-2 home draw against Bryan Robson's Sheffield United on Saturday.

But manager Geraint Williams took heart from an encouraging performance. The U's are now four points adrift of safety, with 17 games still to play.

“It's where we are at the end of the season that matters, and we still have everything to play for,” enthused Williams.

“The situation will change from week to week. There are still 51 points up for grabs.

“Conceding a goal just before half-time could have eaten away at our self-belief, but that didn't happen. I was very pleased with the response. Kevin (Lisbie) is a real livewire. He's always a threat when he gets behind the opposing defence, and he finished superbly (for the equaliser at the start of the second-half).

“We haven't had that much luck this season, so I was hoping that we would capitalise on the good fortune from Johnnie Jackson's deflected free-kick. However, we switched off and gave their lad (David Carney) too much space for the equaliser.

“If anyone was going to edge it, then I thought we would. I thought our fans were excellent. They could see the amount of effort and application that the team put in, and the quality that was on show.”

The U's did suffer an injury blow to inspirational winger Mark Yeates, who ended up in hospital after injuring his shoulder before the hour mark.

Williams confirmed: “Mark put his shoulder out. He's gone to hospital and he was in a lot pain. He's very sore and we'll have to see how it settles down.”