Skipper Dean Hammond has insisted Colchester United can still make an impact in Coca-Cola League One this season, after leading them to an impressive victory at Leeds United.

Hammond was in excellent form at Elland Road, scoring the U’s equaliser and helping them go on to record a 2-1 win over their promotion-chasing hosts.

It was Colchester’s fifth away win of the league campaign and the former Brighton and Hove Albion man revealed he and his team-mates are determined to show they can compete with any team in the division.

Hammond told the Gazette: “We went to Leeds wanting to prove that we can win games and be a force in this league, which we know we can.

“We showed great character – the boys are all committed to doing well this season and we still believe that we can.

“The gaffer (Paul Lambert) said to us in the dressing room after the game that he really wants us to drive this on now.

“The boys are all ambitious and we all want to do that.”

Hammond headed in Mark Yeates’ corner seconds before half-time to get the U's back on level terms, after Robert Snodgrass had given Leeds the lead ten minutes earlier.

Colchester had capitalised after referee Nigel Miller had ordered Leeds centre-half Rui Marques, who had blood on his shirt, to temporarily leave the field before the corner was taken.

“It’s always nice to score from a set play because I don’t think we’ve scored from too many of those this season,” said Hammond.

“The referee made decisions and some weeks it goes for you and other weeks it doesn’t.

“There have been games at our place where it has felt like the referee has been against us.

“You just have to concentrate on your own game – that’s what we did and that’s why we got the three points.”

Hammond and his U’s team-mates are now preparing for their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area semi-final at Luton Town tomorrow night.