HAYDEN Mullins has urged his Colchester United players to keep driving each on – and up the League Two table.

The U’s head coach has been suitably encouraged by his side’s recent performances, which have seen them embark on a four-match league unbeaten run.

Colchester were on cloud nine in the aftermath of their thrilling 3-2 triumph at Barrow, a spirited display which left Mullins delighted with his side.

And ahead of their home clash with Crawley Town this weekend, the U’s boss wants them to push for more of the same.

Mullins said: “We have to build on it – we have to use this momentum and that feeling and really drive each other on.

“It was a good, strong, solid team performance (at Barrow).

“We spoke about the character and the drive of the team at half-time but I really thought we got tested in that second half with some of the decisions that went against us, the red card and going down to ten men, balls flying into our box, long throws and a lot of pressure on us.

“We stood up to it showing real character and to come away with the win was pleasing.”

Colchester’s 3-2 victory at Barrow saw them hit three goals away from home in the league for the first time since winning 3-0 at Carlisle United in March, 2020.

Mullins said he had no doubt that the goals would flow, with the U’s having scored four times in five league games prior to the Barrow win.

He said: “I’ve been in football a long time and it’s easy to kind of look at one thing.

“If you focus on a lot of the negative stuff, players really feed into it.

“It’s my job and the staff’s job to kind of really refocus and get their energy in different directions.

“Even against Gillingham, people were saying ‘you haven't scored after having lots of chances’ but the pleasing thing for me was the way they played.

“We opened up a League One team so many times that evening and it shows me how everyone is understanding what we want from them.

“You can put one side out on the Tuesday against Gillingham and play like that and then I've changed almost the whole team and we still get another performance and result like that (at Barrow).

“It’s fantastic to see and it shows me that they are working together as a real unit.”