COLCHESTER United boss Paul Lambert hailed captain Dean Hammond after his two goal performance in Huddersfield.The defensive midfielder had been badly missed in last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Hartlepool - a match he had been rested from due to a sore hamstring.

Stuart Watson

COLCHESTER United boss Paul Lambert hailed captain Dean Hammond after his two goal performance in Huddersfield.

The defensive midfielder had been badly missed in last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Hartlepool - a match he had been rested from due to a sore hamstring.

He returned to the starting line up and proved his worth with a goal in each half - the first a cool penalty and the second a stunning free kick to rescue a point in stoppage time.

Lambert said: “I thought he was terrific the rest on Saturday did him a world of good, as it did Kemi (Izzet). I was really really pleased with him”.

“He just lifted the ball over the wall, not with much power, but with a great deal of accuracy”.

In truth Colchester - who slim playoff ambitions weren't greatly helped by a single point - they can count themselves fortunate to have got anything from a match in which they were comprehensively outplayed in following the break.

Lambert was therefore delighted that his side somehow claimed a share of the spoils.

“We are unbeaten in three games now and are starting to get a wee bit of a run going again, we have come a long way in a short space of time and will keep on going”.

And the Scotsman also reserved praise for stand-in keeper Mark Cousins who was thrown into the fray following a late injury to Jimmy Walker.

“One thing about Mark Cousins is that his hands are very good” said Lambert.

“He is a young lad who came into this game and showed he could do a good job.”