McGreal urges U’s to play things cool
JOHN McGreal urged his play-off chasing Colchester United team to stay grounded despite their convincing triumph over Newport County.
The U’s moved up to sixth in League Two after they ran out comfortable winners at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Colchester took a 20th-minute lead through Sammie Szmodics, who prodded home after Ryan Jackson had helped on Frank Nouble’s lofted pass in the penalty area.
And the outstanding Courtney Senior doubled the hosts’ lead in first-half stoppage-time with a superb 25-yard shot.
Former Newport attacker Nouble wrapped up the U’s win in the 63rd minute with a magnificent solo effort which saw him bamboozle Newport left-back Dan Butler before curling a superb shot into the far corner.
Colchester head coach McGreal said: “It was a good performance against a good, strong team.
“We’ve scored some really good goals but it’s three points – that’s all it is. We can’t get carried away.
“The most pleasing thing is that we’ve been able to combat them and also implement our own game.
“We’ve been in and around it after good wins before and we have to back it up.”
McGreal had special praise for Senior, who caused Newport problems throughout.
“Courtney was one of the players who played at a high, high level,” added McGreal. “He was a constant thorn in their side.”
Newport manager Michael Flynn admitted his side were second best.
Flynn said: “We started quite brightly and it was pretty even but then we got outplayed.
“It was handball for their first goal but that didn’t cost us the game.
“It didn’t cost us the match because I thought they were very good and we looked way off it. “The players are capable of so much more – they looked very flat again and we got outplayed.
“I won’t make any excuses – I thought Colchester were well worthy of the three points.
“It was my second year anniversary as Newport manager but you win some, you lose some – you might even draw some.
“I’m just trying to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season and see where it takes us.”