Colchester United head coach Danny Cowley, credited his side’s pre-season victory over Millwall as 'a step in the right direction'.

The U’s ran out 1-0 victors over the Lions, during a friendly at The Den which was played behind closed doors.

Lyle Taylor was on target for Colchester, within the first half only a dozen minutes old, but missed a penalty just ten minutes later.

The summer signing’s spot-kick rebounded from off the post, but that didn’t cost the U’s anything other than a greater margin of victory.

Taylor’s goal came from an impressive Colchester counter-attack, which started off with the composed defensive work of Arthur Read.

Bradley Ihionvien then saw his effort bounce off the woodwork, but Taylor was on hand to capitalise and volleyed in the rebound.

Speaking to cu-fc.com after the match, Cowley was full of praise for his squad’s efforts and said: “I think it was a good day for us, a real step in the right direction, good attitude and work ethic from the group.

“It’s a big challenge for us. We played against a really, really good Millwall team in blazing hot conditions and I thought we were really aggressive against the ball and that flowed into our play with the ball.

"I thought we carried a really good threat all afternoon.”

Both Ihionvien and goal scorer Taylor, registered over an hour’s work at The Den, and the U’s boss was encouraged by their performances.

Cowley added: “I thought Lyle and Brad looked a real threat up there. Brad has had a really good pre-season to date, he looks like such a big threat in behind.

"I thought we pressed as well, with a real aggression and intensity, Lyle led that for us. I thought that it was a really good afternoon.”

Cowley’s positive assessment of the match did not stop there.

While the U’s defensive record certainly improved after he joined the club, in January, he noted the importance of the team’s back line.

He added: “I’m pleased, also, with the clean sheet, because we haven’t had enough since I’ve been in the building.

“And with my teams, I’ve always been used to conceding less than a goal a game and keeping a lot of clean sheets along the way.

"This is certainly a good way to win games. I thought that it was a real positive as well.”

The U’s now have just one more pre-season game to play before the 2024/25 League Two season gets underway.

Cowley’s side will travel to St Neots Town FC, on Saturday, to play League One side Cambridge United.

This was announced, with cu-fc.com confirming the JobServe Community Stadium playing surface is still in need of preservation, ahead of the new season.