Danny Cowley proud as Colchester earn point at Cambridge

Danny Cowley was proud of Colchester’s performance at promotion-chasing Cambridge.

Having lost at Barrow on Saturday, Cowley’s side drew 1-1 at the Abbey, offering a stern test to Cambridge’s long unbeaten home record stretching back to September.

The hosts went ahead inside three minutes through Kell Watts before Jack Payne equalised, and Cowley’s Colchester looked by far the likelier side to find a winner in the second half.

“We only take a point but I think we take a lot of confidence, and most importantly I think we regain our pride,” side Cowley afterwards.

“We knew we’d respond. We were so disappointed with ourselves, it wasn’t us on Saturday. We just didn’t find our levels but we knew we’d find our intensity today.

“I was so proud of the way that we played. It was a real test for us because we were so disappointed with ourselves on Saturday. It’s a real test of your minerals and substance. I was so proud of the way we committed to how we wanted to play.

“We played with a really good rhythm. I thought the midfield three were magnificent.

“They’re the best team that we’ve played, for sure. They will be automatically promoted, no doubt. We’ve taken them all the way today.

“Now (there’s) a big game coming on Saturday against Barnet because we have only one point this week and we want to really make sure that we finish the week in form.”

Neil Harris felt the draw was a strong point for his Cambridge side, while acknowledging it had not been their strongest performance.

“We looked like a team that was not at the levels we have been at,” he said. “That’s a positive that we’ve taken a team in the top half, got a strong point against them and we’ve been nowhere near our levels.

“Sometimes you have to accept that with four games in 10 days not everybody can be at the best of their ability. It was just another little reminder to us today, well done for seven points out of nine, but if we don’t hit eight, nine, 10, 11 players playing at their best then you come unstuck in this division.

“It was a really impressive Colchester, they came with so much energy in the way they played and their bravery with the ball and their energy against the ball.

“Were the moments there for the subs in the final third? Maybe not, but I’m not going to bemoan it because it can’t happen every game.

“It’s a massive positive, a point, and we’ve gone to 60 points, which is a massive hurdle to get over. We’re now chasing 70.”