Colchester United recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since August following an impressive 4-0 win over Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.

Goals from Kurtis Guthrie, Owen Garvan, substitute Drey Wright and Brennan Dickenson secured the U's their first home league win since September 10, as they chalked up a second successive victory in League Two.

Colchester head coach John McGreal kept an unchanged starting line-up, following their midweek win over Cheltenham Town.

Garvan and George Elokobi both made their first home starts of the season for the U’s, while McGreal stuck with a 3-5-2 formation.

Colchester produced an impressive first half display, although George Cooper curled wide for the visitors early on.

The U’s took a 20th minute lead when Guthrie glanced in Garvan’s corner at the near post for his fourth goal of the season.

Crewe keeper Ben Garratt made a good save from Denny Johnstone and then made another superb save to foil Richard Brindley from point-blank range, following some flowing football from the U's.

Colchester had a penalty appeal rejected when Brindley’s attempted cross appeared to hit Perry Ng’s hand in the area.

Garratt denied Johnstone again before the break and Colchester deserved their half-time lead, after an energetic and coherent opening 45 minutes.

Dickenson's attempted cross hit the roof of the net in the opening minutes of the second half but Crewe warmed to the task after that, with U's keeper Sam Walker denying Alex Kiwomya at his near post and the visitors having a penalty appeal rejected when substitute Ben Nugent fell under Johnstone's challenge in the area.

Craig Slater's low shot on the turn was well saved by the busy Garratt on the hour mark, as Colchester looked for the cushion of a second goal.

McGreal sent on Wright for Johnstone and changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation, after the hour mark.

And Colchester doubled their lead with 18 minutes remaining when Garvan dispossessed Cooper midway inside the Crewe half and coolly stroked a low shot past Garratt for 2-0.

The U's were on a roll and they scored a third five minutes later through substitute Wright, who ran at the Crewe defence and slotted a low shot past Garrett and into the near post.

And Colchester wrapped up their biggest win of the season in stoppage-time when Dickenson lashed in a fine left foot strike that left Garratt with no chance, as the U's secured an impressive victory.