Joe Dunne believes Colchester United’s showing in League One this season was an improvement on their performance in the previous campaign.

The U’s have finished the season in 16th position on 53 points, two points better off than last year’s total.

Colchester drew five more games than they did last season and lost five fewer matches along the way.

U’s boss Dunne said: “We haven’t been in the bottom four all year and it’s definitely not as bad as it was, last year.

“We’ve kept our heads above water.

“My remit was to keep the team in the league when I took over and we’ve achieved that.

“There were only two games this season where we lost by more than two goals - Notts County and Wolves.

“If we’ve lost games this year it’s generally been by the odd goal and I think that’s a tremendous improvement.

“We’ve drawn a lot of games and the key focus is to turn those draws into wins and a big part of it will be the mental side.

“The goal distribution - where we concede - has got to change.

“Those moments before half-time are purely mental.”

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including an interview with the U's latest academy debutant Frankie Kent, see Tuesday's Daily Gazette.