Colchester United boss, John McGreal, insists that his side are building up a “reputation” in League Two, after their excellent run of results of the last two months.

The U’s are just four points adrift of the play-offs, and looking to make further advances up the table against visiting Lincoln City tomorrow night.

Danny Cowley’s Imps are just one point and two places ahead of the U’s, so a home win would see the Essex side leapfrog their opponents going into this Saturday’s tough trip to league leaders Notts County.

A tally of 18 points from the U’s last nine games has certainly transformed them from relegation candidates to promotion contenders.

“We shipped quite a number of goals during the early part of the season, and we have done a lot of work on that aspect of it,” said McGreal.

“The boys now look a solid outfit. That has taken one or two of our attacking options away, but the boys are quite comfortable in this 3-5-2 formation at the moment, and the return of points, with 18 out of the last nine games, is terrific for us.

“We are building up a reputation, and getting a lot of respect from the opposition.

“Now it’s about what else we can do.

“I just felt at times (during the 0-0 home draw against Morecambe on Saturday) that we didn’t move the ball quick enough. We had good composure but we need to move it a little quicker. We didn’t against Morecambe, and that allowed them to get back into shape.

“We’re looking for more quality on the ball, against Lincoln.

“The positives were keeping a clean-sheet, but we know that we have to do a little more as an attacking threat.

“We made three positive substitutions, we were not sitting on a point, and we did get more width in the final 15 minutes,” added McGreal.

Kyel Reid, Craig Slater and Drey Wright added some pace and ingenuity to the U’s attacks during the last quarter of the game, with Wright hitting the bar late on.

“We keep asking for numbers and Drey keeps coming back with – ‘well, I’ve hit the cross-bar and the post and I’m getting crosses in the box’ – it’s just unfortunate, “ continued McGreal.

“He’s just got to keep putting himself in those areas, and getting chances to score.”