Colchester United defender Fiacre Kelleher sets standards high

The U’s claimed an impressive 3-0 victory at the previously-unbeaten Gills to register their first win of the season in League Two.

Colchester will be looking to follow up their triumph at Priestfield Stadium with another win when they visit Walsall, this weekend.

READ MORE: The key areas Colchester United are set to prioritise before deadline

And defender Kelleher, who made a scoring return for the U’s after injury, insists they must keep their standards high.

Kelleher said: “I think we can kick on from here, we have to.

“We can take a lot of positives from it but I think the bar has been set in terms of the intensity and concentration that needs to be there every week now.

“I was delighted with the result and how I played.

“I thought the boys put in a really, really good shift.

READ MORE: U's under-21s are beaten at Crewe

“We were really good (against MK Dons) up until around 75 minutes – we played really well.

“We’ve had a lot of really good performances in there and it was just about making sure that we do that for 90-95 minutes and not take the foot off the gas.

“I just feel that in the previous games, the concentration levels, especially set-pieces and things just hasn’t been there and we’re switched off a little bit.

“But (against Gillingham), everyone was incredible, really concentrating, really focused and played their part.”

Kelleher returned for Colchester as a substitute at Gillingham, having been sidelined for around six weeks with a calf injury.

“It’s tough to have an injury especially in pre-season,” said Kelleher.

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go for me when I did come back and where I was going to get the game time and things like that.

“That 45 minutes will stand me in really good stead and give me all of the fitness I need really.

READ MORE: U's trio acknowledged in League Two Team of the Week

“You can’t get that from training sometimes and hopefully now I can just ease my way into things now.

“I’d had about four days’ training where I’d felt alright but I’d not really played a game since Doncaster away.

“I’d played 45 minutes in pre-season and I felt a little bit sluggish but I can still be a strong voice; it’s something I can naturally do and try and be as loud as I could.”

Kelleher’s goal for Colchester against Gillingham was his third for the club since joining them from Bradford City, last January.

The 27-year-old has looked a potent threat for the U’s from set pieces and admits he feels confident in the opposition’s box.

“Since I’ve come to Colchester, I’ve just found that bit of luck,” added the former Celtic defender.

“To be fair in my career, this is the most that the ball has fallen to me in the box.

“There is a bit of luck but I’m thinking before every game ‘I can score today’.

“I feel like every time the ball is in the box, I have a chance.

“I know it’s an old cliché but the key is to be on the move and cause a bit of a ruckus and just try to unnerve the opposition a little bit – all these things play a little part.”