DANNY Cowley believes Colchester United’s resilient performance at Port Vale gives them something to build on ahead of their home clash with Carlisle United, this weekend.

The U’s bounced back from their heavy defeat at Walsall with a battling 1-1 draw at Vale Park on Tuesday night, showing plenty of character to come away with a point.

Samson Tovide’s 90th-minute equaliser earned Colchester a point, after Jesse Debrah's second-half header had given high-flying Vale the lead.

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U’s boss Cowley said: “I’ve said to them ‘that’s it’ in terms of resilience, determination, grit.

“That’s what you need away from home – you need to show those qualities and that fight.

“When you come up against good sides like Port Vale, you’re going to have to enjoy running and defending and we showed the qualities that you need to be successful away from home.

“It was for me our best away performance this season and it certainly gives us something to build on, as we look forward to a home game against Carlisle.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

“I was pleased with the character – I know it’s in them.

“I have two qualities in this world – enthusiasm and resilience.

“I have a lot of enthusiasm and I like enthusiasm – I try to bring enthusiasm into my work every single day and I like to have people around me that have that quality.

“I think it’s massively underrated.

READ MORE: U's battling draw was just what they needed after Walsall woe

“I’ve never given up on anything in my life and it just felt like on Saturday (against Walsall) and the way we gave those two final goals away - and I know we were chasing the game - but I don’t think we showed the resilience that you need to, when things go against you.

“I wanted us to answer that, it’s very important to me and we did that.”