Colchester United midfielder Alistair Smith on unbeaten run

The U’s have gone four games undefeated under Danny and Nicky Cowley, having lost eight of their previous ten league games.

Smith netted on his home debut as Colchester battled back to claim a 3-3 draw with Forest Green Rovers after a spirited second-half showing last weekend.

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And the 24-year-old midfielder says being difficult to beat can only be a good thing for U’s as they strive to move up the table.

Smith said: “I think it builds confidence throughout the team if we know we’re hard to beat.

“We need to go into games feeling like we’re a team that can go and do damage, not like a team that’s going to get rolled over.

“I think it only builds confidence when you’re unbeaten for four matches.

“We’re only early into Danny and Nicky’s time here and you can already see a lot of good things come to the forefront, in the second half.

"If we can produce that for 60, 70 minutes, we’ll give ourselves a real chance to keep going up the table.”

Smith revealed a half-time chat with Colchester assistant head coach Nicky Cowley paved the way for his goal against Forest Green.

The former Sutton United man finished well from a tricky angle to score and begin the U’s revival.

“I spoke to Nicky at half-time about making more runs in behind,” said Smith, who joined on loan from League One side Lincoln City last month.

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“We were receiving the ball and we were in front of their defence, so it was kind of easy for them to mark.

“As soon as I saw it going into big John (Akinde), I knew I had the legs to run off him and then he’ll find me, so it’s panned out really well.

“You have to show character when you’re 2-0 down. As a footballer on the pitch, you can’t hide because everyone’s watching you.

“It’s like a gladiator arena and it’s going to be really evident if you see people go under and I didn’t think anyone did, when we were 2-0 down.

“We all showed up and came away with a point and maybe could’ve got the win, on another day. In that period, we put them under constant pressure and that’s how we need to play and make this place a fortress - that’s what the fans deserve.

“I don’t think there was ever a doubt in my mind that we could get back into the game.

“I think if you play like that, I think you’re defeated before you even start.

“I was always positive and the team was as well and when I scored the goal to give us a bit of momentum, you could see the lift it gave us and the fans were behind us.

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“I thought we looked a real force and it’s just seeing the game out that’s the next step.

“When you’re in the lead, if you give the opposition a sniff that they can get back into it, then that’s when they start building momentum.

“When the momentum is with you, you need to go and get the fourth and the fifth and kill the game completely, to not give them a chance but that’s something we’re working on.