Colchester United were without duo for Grimsby Town clash

COLCHESTER United head coach Danny Cowley is hopeful experienced duo Tom Flanagan and Tom Hopper will not be long-term absentees after they missed their side’s victory at Grimsby Town.

Skipper Flanagan and striker Hopper sat out the U’s 1-0 triumph at Blundell Park at the weekend, their first away win of the season in League Two.

Flanagan was ruled out due to a hip problem which occurred during Colchester's 1-1 draw with Bradford City on November 16, while Hopper was absent because of a groin issue suffered in training, last week.

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Cowley said: “We’re hoping that they’re not too far away.

“They’ve settled down as the week has gone on, so hopefully they’re not too long.

“Tom did it when he had to come off, last week.

“He caught his knee in the ground on a clearance and just over extended at the hip.

“So, it’s a very low level strain to one of the hip muscles.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

“Hops came out of training on Monday after just feeling his groin.”

Ben Goodliffe was recalled to Colchester’s starting line-up for the Grimsby game in Flanagan’s absence and produced a solid performance in tough conditions, at the heart of the U’s defence.

“I thought Ben did well,” said Cowley.

“I thought it was really difficult for him, in the first half.

“It wasn’t easy for the defensive line because the ball was coming on so quickly because of the wind behind and then it was moving as well.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

“In the second half, it was much easier because it held up and the boys could get on the front foot and were aggressive.”

Cowley’s substitutions unlocked the door for Colchester’s win at Grimsby, with John-Kymani Gordon and Jack Payne stepping off the bench and combining to score their winner, less than three minutes after coming on.

Cowley added: “The boys that started the game really pathed the way for the boys that came on.

“I’m proud of the way they came on because both of them could have felt hard done by for not starting.

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“It’s easy for you to let individual disappointment get big and then the team suffers.

“But they didn’t and they’re two really good professionals.

“Payney is just a class act and I’m so pleased for JK.

“He’d been scoring in training all week and finding a really good bit of rhythm and when it fell to him, he just side-footed it in.

“Sometimes, simplicity is genius.”