HEAD coach John McGreal says there is a “huge feel-good factor” sweeping around Colchester United.

His on-song side can stretch their proud unbeaten record to ten league matches with a positive result at Exeter City tomorrow.

No U’s manager since Phil Parkinson has achieved that impressive feat, with the last time being during the 2005-06 season when the club were promoted to the Championship.

Colchester are also unbeaten in five away games for the first time since April 2013.

Their run has seen the team climb to seventh in League Two and in addition to the recent points haul, McGreal has identified a special relationship growing between the players and U’s fans.

“We’ve got momentum behind us and the boys are in a really good place,” he said.

“Training just flows and has been fantastic.

“There’s a huge feel-good factor around the club, not just because of results but also because of the bond between the players and fans.

“It’s been terrific, both home and away, and we’ve got a great following.

“Hopefully we can put in more performances like we have in the last couple of months to keep the fans coming and make them proud.

“You need the supporters.

“Even on our win-less run, there was huge support and the players are getting recognition for all their hard work.”

Colchester’s loyal followers are back on the road tomorrow.

Seven days after their marathon trek to Newport County, the U’s are preparing for 550-mile round trip to Exeter’s St James Park.

Both sides are in excellent form and McGreal is expecting a tough match against the Grecians.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“It’s a match between two teams who are playing particularly well at this moment in time.

“They’re on fire and we’re on fire.

“We’re both on good runs and scoring goals and they’ve got a nice pitch, so I’m hoping and guessing we’ll see a really good game.

“Both (assistant manager) Steve (Ball) and myself know (Exeter manager) Paul Tisdale. He’s a great guy.

“We were new to this job when they beat us earlier in the season and he said we had a good team, especially when injured players came back.

“Managers don’t have to say things like that.

“Paul took the time to reassure us, though.

“He’s got a few young players in his team, with a blend of experience too, and that’s where we’re trying to get to.

“If it’s open like it was before and we end up taking the points then brilliant. I’ll take that all day.”

Colchester will check on the fitness of Kurtis Guthrie and Craig Slater, as both had to be withdrawn with groin injuries in last week’s 1-1 draw at Newport.

McGreal has also revealed that midfielder Doug Loft could be back in action soon, having been ruled out with an Achilles tendon problem since August.

“Lofty is only a couple of weeks away and that’s really pleasing, because it’s been a very testing time for him,” said the U’s boss.

“We’re hoping he can join in at training next week and then have a big say towards the end of the season. We’ve also got a two-week break after this fixture, which is good for him and also some of the other boys.”