DANNY Cowley says Colchester United appreciate the EFL's understanding after being granted permission to change their pitch dimensions.
The U's played on a smaller pitch against Walsall at the weekend, with the JobServe Community Stadium surface now four metres narrower and three metres shorter.
Colchester put in a request to the EFL for the changes after independent pitch specialists assessed the playing surface, following a spate of postponements.
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And while Cowley admits the alterations did not come at an ideal time ahead of a game against set-piece specialists Walsall, the U's boss said it was the sensible thing to do.
Cowley said: "We appreciate the league being understanding.
"It didn't help us today, because you play against the best set-piece team in the division in Walsall, who in 2024 have been the best set piece team in the league.
"We know that the narrower the pitch, the more chance there is of goals from set pieces, because that's what the statistics tell us.
"So it wasn't ideal today but it was the right thing.
"It's so important that we celebrate all of the staff (for their work on the pitch last week).
"I watched (sporting director) Dmitri (Halajko) walking around in his socks, because he'd used up all of his footwear all week!
"All of his footwear was sitting in his porch, caked in mud!
"Everybody helped - Greggors (David Gregory), Tim (Waddington), all the commercial guys, the academy staff, all the under-18s, everybody has come together - everyone's done so much to try to get the game on Tuesday (against Doncaster).
"We came up a bit short but we stayed resilient and we worked relentlessly hard to play today."
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Colchester moved out of the League Two relegation zone with their point against Walsall, following Forest Green Rovers' home defeat to fellow strugglers Sutton United.
Cowley insists he is only focusing on the U's, as they battle for EFL survival.
"I'm running my own race," said Cowley.
"I've never seen anyone run fast when they're looking behind them.
"Let's just concentrate on us, let's put all of our energy on what we can control and keep trying to perform consistently well.
"In the changing room before the game, everybody contributed.
"The injured boys were whipping the boys up, they're supporting them, they're helping them; the boys that start at it, even the boys that didn't get on the pitch, the finishers, no disappointment, just really helping the team.
"They're a really good group, honestly - they're as good a group as I've had.
"I believe in the football gods and if you work hard, the football gods look after you.
"They're not at the minute. I think they've forgotten me - they used to like me!
"But we'll keep going."
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