BEN Garner described Colchester United's impressive showing against Tranmere Rovers as the 'complete performance' after they ran out 2-0 winners at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Goals from Joe Taylor and Bradley Ihionvien sealed the U's deserved win and their margin of victory could well have been far greater, had it not been for the impressive performance of the visitors' goalkeeper Luke McGee.
Garner said: “I’m really proud of the performance.
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“I think from start to finish, we were excellent in pretty much all departments today.
“If I’m being really critical, we should have scored a lot more goals.
“But other than that, it was a really complete performance and it’s one that the players and their families can be really proud of."
Taylor gave Colchester an 11th-minute lead when he finished superbly, from Arthur Read's excellent pass.
It was the on-loan Luton Town striker's fifth goal of the season and boss Garner was delighted with his contribution.
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“Joe Taylor is great in those situations," said Garner.
“It’s brilliant movement first and foremost, it’s a super pass from Arthur Read and it’s such a clever finish.
“He makes it look easy and it’s not.
"The pleasing thing with Joe today was his all-round performance.
"He scored another goal but as an all-round performance, that was so much better, with and without the ball.
"The improvements he's made this week from the last two were incredible and he needs to build on that now, because he can become a complete forward."
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Colchester had to be patient before they scored their second goal, despite creating countless chances and being denied by McGee on a number of occasions.
Ihionvien finally secured the U's win in the 87th minute when he finished from near the goal-line, after John Akinde's deflected effort had looped into his path.
Garner said: “I thought we should have been three or four up at the break; we weren’t but we stayed calm and the players went and delivered again, in the second half.
“I was pleased when the second one went in that’s for sure.
"You're always on that knife-edge when it's only 1-0.
"Although I didn't feel under pressure and they didn't look like they were going to score, someone can just stick one in the top corner for 35 yards and it's 1-1.
“I was delighted with Brad’s goal.
“It was a forward’s instinct and he’s a natural goalscorer.
"Brad's hungry for goals and hungry to play and improve.
"He's another young player who I would like to see have a really good career here."
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