COLCHESTER United defender Magnus Okuonghae is backing the club’s forwards to hit the net against Notts County this afternoon.

The U’s have now failed to score in their last three games in all competitions, but the club’s in-form centre-back predicts that is all about to change.

“I’m confident the goal-scoring situation will turn around soon,” said the Nigerian-born 24-year-old.

“We’ve been putting away the chances in training all week and it’s only a matter of time before they all start finding the net in matches.

“There have certainly been no complaints from the defence about the strikers because, although it’s a cliche, we defend as a team and we attack as a team.

“Of course goals at the other end does relieve a bit of pressure on us defenders but all we can do is keep making sure we keep clean sheets like last week.”

Stripped of the captaincy by new manager John Ward this summer, Okuonghae – a virtual ever-present last season – has been in imperious form of late.

The 3-0 home defeat to Huddersfield two weeks ago aside, the U’s have looked fairly water-tight this season and quickly got back to their defensive best last weekend with a hard-fought goalless draw at in-form Oldham.

“The defeat to Huddersfield was unlike ourselves,” said Okuonghae. “I thought we gifted them their goals, but we learnt from that and it was great to get the clean sheet last time out.

“I’m enjoying my football and feel I’m playing well at the moment but you always want to get better and I think there’s still room for improvement.”

– For a full two-page match preview of Colchester United v Notts County – including an interview with Okuonghae’s fellow centre-back Paul Reid – see today’s EADT.