This time last year, Colchester United had already accrued seven more points than Joe Dunne’s men have mustered so far this season.

And yet manager Dunne insists that his team are playing better football, and delivering better performances, than at the start of 2013-14.

Twelve months ago, the U’s were flying high after celebrating two victories and two draws from their first four league games, with 1-0 wins at Gillingham and against Port Vale, and 1-1 draws at Sheffield United and against Carlisle.

By contrast, the U’s have managed just one point after four games this term, with defeats to Bristol City, Notts County and Doncaster, following an opening day draw against Oldham.

Dunne, though, feels that his current team are in a better shape.

“Overall, I think we are playing better than last year, I do,” insisted Dunne, whose U’s side enertatin Peterborough United tomorrow afternoon.

“I’m probably taking a lot of criticism at the moment, with one point from 12, but in another season we could be sitting far higher up the table.

“I still believe this group of players are making progress.

“They were devastated in the dressing room (after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Doncaster). They were absolutely devastated and on the floor, but I’m telling them that it is only four games.

“I don’t want them to get sucked into any kind of negativity, that’s very important. We can still bounce back from this.

“At some stage the duck will be broken, and then you can go on a three-game run.

“At this stage of the season you can lose your first four or five games, and then win your next three or four, and suddenly the season changes. “That opportunity is still there for us.

“It’s not as though we are nine or 10 points adrift at the bottom after 20-odd games, where we have been before.

“We have been in situations a lot harder than this, and got out of it,” added Dunne.

The U’s will welcome back Sanchez Watt and David Wright, following injury, for tomorrow’s visit of Posh, although both are set to be on the bench.