IT might not have been the prettiest to watch, at times.

But with the heavy 4-0 defeat at Walsall still fresh in the minds, Colchester United’s battling draw at Port Vale was just what they needed, right now.

The U’s have responded well whenever they have had setbacks, this season.

After suffering their heaviest defeat under the Cowleys last weekend, the U’s did so again, with a much-improved defensive display against another side in Vale with promotion aspirations.

READ MORE: Danny Cowley's verdict on Colchester United draw at Port Vale

Colchester boss Danny Cowley rang the changes at the back ahead of the trip to Vale Park, bringing in centre-backs Fiacre Kelleher and Aaron Donnelly for their first league starts of the season and also recalling Rob Hunt, with Ben Goodliffe and Mandela Egbo dropping to the bench.

What followed was a defensive solidity throughout the team – epitomised by forward Tom Hopper’s relentless work ethic - that snuffed out Vale’s attack for much of the game, much to the frustration of their home fans who grew increasingly frustrated with what they perceived as time-wasting tactics and gamesmanship from the U’s.

Perhaps there was an element of that from the visitors; nevertheless, too often over the years Colchester have been a soft touch away from home and such an approach is sometimes necessary, if it means picking up points on the road.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

Even when Vale scored from a set-piece, ten minutes after the break, the U’s did not buckle.

At Walsall, they crumbled in the final stages of the contest when their hosts put them to the sword to seal their victory; not so against Vale.

Instead, Colchester stood firm.

Indeed, they grew stronger as the final whistle approached and were rewarded thanks to Samson Tovide’s 90th-minute equaliser.

Danny Cowley often talks of his ‘finishers’ rather than substitutes and the players who came off the bench for him against Vale proved effective particularly JK Gordon, who supplied the shot that led to Tovide’s follow-up strike.

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Port Vale away draw

Much like in their 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley last month, the U’s struck a late equaliser to claim a hard-earned point on the road and that bodes well for the rest of the season.

Their defensive display offers welcome encouragement and after conceding 12 goals in their opening four away games, this was progress.

The U's restricted Vale to four shots on target and while conceding from a set piece was a blemish, they generally did the basics right.

There is still plenty of work to be done for Colchester, if they are to challenge at the right end of the League Two table, this season.

The U’s must find greater consistency but picking up points away from home is a good way to start, providing of course it is followed up at home.

Struggling Carlisle United are the visitors to the JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday and Colchester know they must follow up the draw at Vale with a win, if they are to consider themselves a team capable of competing for a top-seven finish, this season.