Steve Whitton was bouyant after his Colchester United millennium marauders grabbed a richly-deserved goalless draw at Swindon Town.

And while paying tribute to his entire team for their "very encouraging opening day performance," the delighted U's boss showered praise on golden oldie man-of-the-match Jason Dozzell.

Whitton said: "Jason proved there is no substitute for class and experience.

"And when you've got players like him and Micky Stockwell in your team you're always going to get the ball down and play football.

"Jason was absolutely outstanding considering the lack of action he had because of injury in pre-season.

"It was no coincidence when he came off our game dropped off."

But Whitton stressed: "The day was not just about Jason. I felt he, Micky Stockwell and David Gregory played through the midfield well.

"I was very pleased with the way all three of my new boys - Simon Clark, Alan White and Stockwell - played. They all gelled very well.

"Simon Brown was outstanding in goal, he pulled off some great saves to keep us in the match, while Lomana Tresor Lua Lua was a constant threat to the Swindon defence.

"Everything that was positive up front went through Lomana and he looked dangerous everytime he was on the ball.

"The whole game was nice to watch. A lot had been said about Swindon and their new signings before the game, but I felt we totally outplayed them, especially in the First half and it was only our finishing that let us down.

"Perhaps it was a great time to play them, but the only real danger they caused us was through set pieces."

Whitton said Swindon were, after all, the home team and, a First Division side last season at that, so the U's shouldn't have been surprised that they were looking to attack them.

He added: "Simon Brown was in action too much and maybe our defence does need tightening.

"No goals against and unbeaten on the first day? I'll settle for that."

Tricky Micky - U's defender Micky Stockwell evades the attentions of Swindon defender Adam Willis

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