COLCHESTER United chairman Robbie Cowling has urged the club’s fans to stay behind Joe Dunne and his players in 2014.

The U’s have experienced mixed results at the Weston Homes Community Stadium over recent weeks and were beaten 2-1 by struggling Crewe Alexandra on Sunday.

But ahead of today’s trip to play MK Dons in League One, Cowling has called for Colchester fans to remain supportive of the team this year.

And the U’s supremo has reiterated his desire to see more people in the town get behind their local Football League side.

Cowling said: “The fans who have come along have been very supportive.

“It would just be nice to see a few more people come and watch us.

“My main message to our supporters going into the new year is to keep the faith with what we’re trying to do.

“We want the fans to stay with us and get behind us.

“I’d appeal to them not to judge us on one result – look at what we’re trying to do in the long term.

“I just want the fans to get behind the team and be positive, especially during the 90 minutes.

“I’m sure that the team that we have can do well, especially with the players that we have coming back.

“We have the likes of Freddie Sears and Gavin Massey to return and Sanchez Watt is still feeling his way back.”