John McGreal believes the rekindled connection between Colchester United’s players and supporters can help boost their play-off charge.

The U’s host already-promoted Plymouth Argyle in front of an expected crowd of more than 5,000 tomorrow, hoping to boost their own promotion chances.

Colchester’s form at the Weston Homes Community Stadium is inferior only to leaders Doncaster Rovers in League Two, this season.

And head coach McGreal feels the bond between his team and the club’s fans can help ignite their quest for success.

McGreal said: “You feel that connection between the players and the fans.

“That’s what we’ve wanted to get back and we’ve done that by winning games of football.

“We have had tons of injuries to contend with but it’s an exciting time now.

“Hopefully there’ll be a big crowd there on Saturday and I’m sure Plymouth will bring a few knowing they have been promoted.

“We want to make some noise on the pitch and hopefully the fans will be right behind us as they have throughout the season.

“We have to be excited - it’s a fabulous opportunity that we have.

“Three games to go, two points outside the play-offs - you’d take that every day.

“It’s nice to be listening to the fans right from minute one to 90 and they were banging the drum and getting after us.”

Colchester lie two points adrift of the play-off places with three games remaining, heading into the Plymouth clash.

It promises to be an exciting run-in, with the U’s one of ten teams with realistic hopes of a top-seven finish.

“I think there will be a few more twists and turns,” said McGreal.

“A lot of teams in the top ten are having to play each other and any number of teams could get into the play-offs.

“I think it’s going to go right down to the wire and there will be twists and turns until the first week in May.

“We just have to be right and continue what we have been doing well with - hopefully that will get us over the line.

“We have always been playing a little bit of a chase to get in there.

“But we have been in and around it and that’s credit to the players.

“For everything that the club has had thrown at it with injuries, to keep putting in performances and reacting when there have been indifferent results is credit to them and I’m sure that will happen again on Saturday.”