FOR the second successive weekend, Colchester United scored three goals in a League Two game.

But the post-match feeling following the U’s 3-0 triumph over Tranmere Rovers felt a world away from the deflation of their demoralising 3-3 draw at Morecambe, seven days earlier.

As Danny Cowley said after the game at the JobServe Community Stadium, a week is a long time in football.

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Tranmere Rovers win

Most crucially, the U’s boss and his players were able to rejoice in a victory, which ultimately they would have also done at the Mazuma Stadium had they not most frustratingly shipped two late goals to a side with ten men.

That was undoubtedly a painful moment but the comprehensive victory over Tranmere was the perfect response to the psychological damage inflicted by that disappointing conclusion, at Morecambe.

“What defines you is how you respond and for us to respond with a win on Tuesday (against MK Dons) and a win today says a lot about the character of the group,” said Cowley.

Colchester’s display against Tranmere on Saturday has been described as the ‘complete performance’ and in truth, it wasn’t far short.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

Three goals, a clean sheet, dominance in all areas and most importantly, a victory which extends the U’s unbeaten run to five matches and lifts them up to 11th in the League Two table.

But underlying all of the key facts was a workmanlike display, where Colchester simply did not allow Tranmere a second to breathe and play their game, throughout the 90 minutes.

Lyle Taylor defended from the front, constantly closing down opposition defenders and not allowing them a second's peace; Tovide likewise.

Taylor and Tovide naturally took the limelight with their goals but underpinning the whole performance was a superbly tenacious midfield display by Alex Woodyard, who epitomised the U’s general desire and energy on the day.

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It was a showing that showed exactly why the Cowleys have held Woodyard in such high regard for so long and were so eager to be reunited with him at Colchester, this summer.

Woodyard provided the bedrock for another impressive U’s attacking display, where for the second successive league game, Taylor, Tovide and Edwards were the star performers.

The Taylor-Tovide partnership – or TNT as it has been dubbed – is looking like an explosive combination and there already seems to be an intrinsic understanding developing between the two strikers.

With five goals between them in their last two games, they are building something promising.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

They might be at opposite ends of their career but they are both looking equally effective, as an alliance.

For Taylor in particular, it was a memorable day.

His fine first-half brace saw him rack up the 100th and 101st league goals of his fine career and showed just why he has hit the net as much as he has.

On the same weekend Erling Haaland scored his 100th goal for Manchester City in all competitions, the U’s had their very own special centurion.

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The key now for Colchester, currently the second-highest scorers in League Two with 14 goals, is to follow up this win with more success, ahead of back-to-back away games against Walsall and Port Vale.

If they can reproduce this kind of performance on a consistent basis, there is no reason why they can’t.