COLCHESTER United boss John Ward has told his players to draw strength from the experiences of Manchester United and Arsenal.

COLCHESTER United boss John Ward has told his players to draw strength from the experiences of Manchester United and Arsenal.

The U’s were hammered 5-1 at home by high-flying MK Dons last weekend, and are now facing up to their longest trip of the campaign, to Carlisle United this Saturday.

But Ward has reminded his U’s squad that even Manchester United, humbled 6-1 at home by rivals Manchester City, and classy Arsenal, blown away 8-2 at Old Trafford in August, have been on the wrong end of thrashings.

Instead, it is all about how the U’s respond to the Dons disaster.

Manchester United won five games on the trot, after their City shocker, while the Gunners bounced back from their ordeal with a gutsy 1-0 win at Swansea in their next fixture.

“It wasn’t our day (against MK Dons), but that has happened to Manchester United this year, and happened to Arsenal this year. I have said that to the team,” revealed Ward.

“But what you ask then is – what did they do next? They both rallied, and we have to do just that.

“We have to look at the best (clubs) who have had heavy defeats, like we have had.

“We go to Carlisle, and we try to do better,” added Ward.