COLCHESTER United boss Phil Parkinson confirmed that Jamie Cureton has played his last game for Colchester United, at least for the foreseeable future.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United boss Phil Parkinson confirmed that Jamie Cureton has played his last game for Colchester United, at least for the foreseeable future.

Swindon Town loanee Cureton took his bow at Brentford on Saturday, playing his part in a marvellous 2-0 win.

Parkinson revealed: “Jamie (Cureton) will go back to Swindon, because they have had to let their own loan players leave. However, I'm not ruling out the possibility that he will return to us later in the season.”

Front-runner Cureton has made a terrific impact during his two-and-a-half months at Layer Road. The 30-year-old bagged seven goals in nine starts, helping the U's to a tremendous recent run of just one defeat in 14 matches. The former Norwich, Bristol Rovers, Reading and QPR striker moved to Swindon last summer, and is still waiting to score his first goal for the Robins. But he has proved that he can be a real force in League One, during his initial loan stint at Layer Road.

Meanwhile, Parkinson was delighted with his side's superb victory at Griffin Park on Saturday. They are now fifth in the table.

“I'm very pleased to have won away at the league leaders. You've got to be happy with this result, because I think Brentford are a terrific team who have been on a fantastic run. I'm sure that they will be up there near the top at the end of the season,” said Parkinson.

“Brentford really went for it in the second half, which we knew they would. They put us under some pressure, but we had several chances on the break.

“We have a lot of pace and quality in the team, especially on the break, and Mark (Yeates) took his goals superbly. I thought he was outstanding, especially as he was up against a good right-back in Kevin O'Connor.

“I knew that Mark could hurt him by going the other way, and he gave him so many problems. Mark has always had goals in him, because he is a good finisher with both feet.

“He has not scored enough goals for us, but we have always had enormous faith in him. Tottenham could recall him. There is a clause in the contract, but hopefully we will keep him for the rest of the season.”

The U's boss was disappointed that his side lost their unbeaten record to an injury-time goal at Swindon Town on Boxing Day, but he was impressed with the manner in which they bounced back in west London.

“At Swindon, we stopped working hard and doing all the ugly things in football,” insisted Parkinson.

“For the first time, we began to believe that we were a good team, and that things would just happen. That defeat was a timely reminder for us. Today we battled hard, and we deserved the win.

“But we mustn't get carried away,” concluded Parkinson.

Brentford manager Martin Allen saw his side lose top spot to Swansea, following Colchester's impressive win at Griffin Park.

Allen admitted: “Colchester are a well-organised and well-disciplined side. They made it very difficult for us. But we have to look to our own performance.

“We were below par, and our back four displayed more formations than the Red Arrows! All the lads feel hurt.”