Colchester United came up short against one of the strongest teams in League Two last weekend, but they will not find this Saturday’s trip to Crewe Alexandra any easier.

East Anglian Daily Times: Courtney Senior (No. 7) scores the U's second goal to put them 2-0 up against Mansfield, although they went on to lose 3-2 on Saturday. Picture: STEVE WALLERCourtney Senior (No. 7) scores the U's second goal to put them 2-0 up against Mansfield, although they went on to lose 3-2 on Saturday. Picture: STEVE WALLER (Image: � Copyright Stephen Waller)

The U’s surrendered a two-goal lead to Mansfield, shipping three second-half goals to lose 3-2 and so slip back to five points adrift of the automatic promotion zone.

On the face of it, an encounter against Crewe, who usually have an annual struggle to fend off relegation, would offer a great chance to return to winning ways.

However, the Railwaymen will be no pushovers on Saturday, as their terrific 1-0 win at promotion contenders MK Dons confirmed last weekend.

In fact, the Cheshire club have the fourth best home record in the division, with only second-placed Bury (33 points), leaders Lincoln City (31) and MK Dons (30) having accumulated more than Crewe’s 29 points from 14 home games.

The U’s experienced attacker, Frank Nouble, recognises that the U’s face a “different type” of challenge at Gresty Road.

“We’ve just got to keep working,” insisted Nouble.

“We have scored goals in each of our last three games, but have conceded three each time as well though, which we don’t usually do. So we’ve got to go away and work on that this week, to get the result we need at Crewe.

“It’s about bouncing back, at Crewe, against a different type of opposition. It will be a different type of game and a different story.

“It’s all about results. This is a results-driven business. I think we are playing well and even in the games we weren’t winning over the last month or so, I thought we were playing all right, but just not getting over the line,” added Nouble.

Reflecting on Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Mansfield, Nouble explained: “I didn’t feel like it was a League Two game. It was a good quality game, of League One standard really.

“Mansfield have got good quality. They have a budget which has allowed them to bring in some big players, but we competed with them like anyone else to be fair.

“We are a good team and we will keep going to the end. I’m sure we will come back from this.

“There’s plenty of the season still to go, and we know that we have got to play more teams from the top six.

“So if we can points off them, I am sure we will be all right.”