COLCHESTER United made it three league wins out of three under interim head coach Matty Etherington after coming from behind to beat Swindon Town 3-1 tonight.

Goals from Noah Chilvers, Samson Tovide and Cameron McGeehan sealed the U's victory at the JobServe Community Stadium, after Jake Young had given the Robins a first-half lead.

It was an impressive second-half showing by Colchester after a flat first-half display and the result will do Etherington's chances of securing the head coach role on a permanent basis no harm at all.

Etherington made two changes to his starting line-up following the FA Cup exit at Shrewsbury Town.

Jay Mingi and Zach Mitchell were recalled to the side in place of Chilvers and Tom Dallison, who dropped to the bench.

Colchester adopted a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Will Greenidge and Jayden Fevrier wing-backs and McGeehan the more advanced of their central midfielders.

It was a scrappy opening, with both sides recovering from FA Cup exits at the weekend.

But as the half wore on, it was Swindon who looked the more dangerous of the two sides.

The Robins missed a gilt-edged chance to score midway through the first half when former QPR striker Charlie Austin sent a free header wide from ten yards with the goal gaping after Remeao Hutton had delivered a dangerous ball into the U’s box.

But Colchester seemingly did not take heed of the warning and Swindon went ahead in the 23rd minute.

Jake Young was afforded time and space to fire home a low shot from the edge of the area, after being picked out by Frazer Blake-Tracy.

It was a poor goal for Colchester to concede and they suffered a further blow ten minutes before half-time when skipper Connor Hall was forced off with an injury, replaced by Dallison.

Swindon came close to doubling their lead seven minutes before the break when Young's fierce shot was parried away by Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman from under his own crossbar.

The U’s were booed off at half-time after a flat first-half performance but they started the second half brightly and needed three minutes to get back on level terms.

Cameron McGeehan bundled the ball home from near the goal-line, after Jayden Fevrier had whipped a fine cross into the six-yard box.

The game was there for the taking for both sides after that and Swindon went close to restoring their lead on the hour when Young sliced a shot wide from close range, from Tyrese Shade's short pass.

But Colchester went ahead for the first time in the game in the 64th minute when Samson Tovide clinically fired home a first-time shot from Will Greenidge's pass, following a fine move by the hosts.

Swindon went in search of an equaliser and with 12 minutes remaining, Mitchell made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in the area, after Swindon had got in behind the Colchester defence.

Zach Mitchell made two outstanding challenges on substitute Rushian Hepburn Murphy in his own penalty area as the clock ticked down.

But substitute Chilvers sealed victory in the third minute of time added on when he latched onto fellow substitute Brad Ihionvien's pass and slotted past goalkeeper Murphy Mahoney, to claim another win for the U's.

MATCH FACTS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Goodman, Greenidge, Mitchell, Hall (sub Dallison, 35), Egbo, McGeehan, Read, Mingi (sub Chilvers, 72), Fevrier, Tovide (sub Ihionvien, 72), Taylor (sub Hopper, 72).

Substitutes (not used): Cooper, Jay, Hornby.

Swindon Town: Mahoney, Hutton, Blake-Tracy, McEachran (sub Hubbard, 89), Young, Kemp, Brewitt, Godwin-Malife, Kinsella (sub Hepburn-Murphy, 69), Shade, Austin (sub Minturn, 69).

Substitutes (not used): Genesini, Brown, Hart, Ward.

Goals: Colchester: McGeehan (49), Tovide (64), Chilvers (90). Swindon: Young (23).

U's man of the match: Cameron McGeehan.

Bookings: Swindon: Kemp (foul, 31), Kinsella (foul, 45).

Referee: Tom Neild.

Attendance: 3,455 (370 Swindon fans).