JUST seven games to go, and Josh Thompson is up for “the fight” that lies ahead.

Thompson headed home his first goal in a Colchester United shirt, with the equaliser at Bury last Saturday, to sow the seeds for a precious 2-1 away win.

As a result of last Saturday’s morale-boosting victory, achieved with just 10 men for all but the first three minutes of the game, the U’s initially opened up a gap of seven points between themselves and the bottom four.

However, that was cut back to five points last night, by Oldham’s home win over Hartlepool. So now is not the time to sit and take stock, as Thompson confirmed.

“Saturday’s win was a massive lift for us,” said Thompson.

“But no games can be taken for granted. Everyone is a fight from now on. We have seven games left, and we are going to fight for our position.

“I think the club has come a long way in the last few months. The manager, the coaching staff and all the players, whether they are in the team or not, are all pushing in the same direction.

“There are no little cliques. Everyone is giving everything they can,” added Thompson.

The U’s back four, with Thompson playing a starring role alongside Magnus Okuonghae, withstood incessant pressure from a Bury side, who were themselves desperate for the three points.

But ex-Portsmouth centre-half Thompson was also quick to recognise the man-of-the-match display from keeper Sam Walker.

“Sam was awesome, he was on a different planet,” enthused Thompson.

“He’s a really good keeper. He showed his quality at Bury, and not just his quality, because it’s also so difficult to keep your composure in a game like that, and yet he didn’t flap at things. He was dominant.

“Sam comes out a lot to deal with crosses, so it’s not necessarily a back four as a unit. It’s a back five with the keeper as well.”

Despite George Porter’s fourth minute red card, goals from Thompson and Clinton Morrison earned a key win at Bury.

Of his goal, Thompson said: “I’ve got on the end of a few crosses without them going in, but that was a really good corner. I made a move, and the ball just seemed to go straight to me.”

The U’s entertain MK Dons on Saturday.