WE'LL fight for you, Geraint.

Colchester United's players have vowed to keep battling to preserve the club's Coca-Cola Championship status, despite crashing to a fourth defeat on the spin.

The U's have been plunged deeper into the relegation mire, following a 2-1 reverse at play-off chasing Crystal Palace.

The loss at Selhurst Park has left Colchester nine points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table, ahead of a run of three successive home games.

Despite their precarious position, the U's players are united in their ongoing quest to beat the drop - both for their club and boss Williams.

"We're the ones out there on the pitch," said defender Phil Ifil.

"The gaffer gives us all of the support we need before we go out there.

"I don't think we're necessarily doing the wrong things - I think it's just that things aren't coming off for us at the moment, whereas if we were in a higher position they probably would be.

"We have to roll our sleeves up and we'll keep going until the final game of the season.

"There are so many games left and we have three big home games coming up where there are nine points available.

"The bottom line is that we can still get out of it."

Striker Kevin Lisbie - whose strike cancelled out Ifil's own goal against the Eagles before Ben Watson netted the winner - echoed the words of his team-mate.

He said: "We're not going to give up, especially for the gaffer because he's been brilliant.

"We know we have to pull our fingers out and the players all have to take responsibility."