Tony Humes has called for Colchester United supporters to stay behind the team as they search for their first victory of the season.

The U’s have failed to win any of their opening four league and cup matches but picked up a point in their 0-0 draw with Oldham Athletic, on Tuesday night.

Colchester make the long trip up to Fleetwood Town this weekend and U's boss Humes says encouragement can make all the difference.

He said: “The supporters stayed with us (against Oldham) and they need to do that because we’ve been a little bit more entertaining and a little bit more solid (against Oldham).

“We only picked up one point from the game and everybody wants to see us win, including the staff and the players.

“But you have to take what you get on the night.

“There’s expectation and pressure on everyone at the football club to win games.

“The players feel it and so do the staff and we all want to win.

“We need encouraging and we need the supporters behind us to support us through thick and thin.”

Humes has praised Sammie Szmodics after he impressed on his return to the U’s starting line-up against Oldham.

The former Stanway School pupil came close to bagging a winner for Colchester when his shot hit a post in the second half, in his first league start of the season.

“Sammie did well and we were pleased with him,” said Humes.

“He hadn’t started before that this season and he took his time to get into the pace of the game, because he hasn’t featured in much of the games so far.

“It took him a little bit of time to get into it but in the second half, he looked a real threat.

“We got Sammie further up the pitch in the second half and I think that caused them a few more problems.

“He unfortunately hit the post where he got in front of the defender and got a shot away.

“He’s going to get sharper and get more confident - we know Sammie is a good player and he did in the second half what we wanted from him and the team to do.

“We didn’t create many chances but when they drop, we’ll get that belief and confidence going and they’ll start hitting the back of the net, I’m sure.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news and a three-page preview of their game at Fleetwood, see Friday's Daily Gazette.