ALEX Gilbey insists Colchester United’s players are not even thinking about the prospect of being relegated.

But the talented midfielder admits it is “now or never” for the U’s if they want to avoid dropping out of League One.

Colchester are ten points shy of safety with six games remaining and this weekend travel to play a Blackpool team who lie just one point above the relegation zone, having played a game more than the visitors.

Gilbey said: “No player wants to get relegated or have that on their CV.

“I don’t think anyone has thought about it yet but we need to go into our next six games and win them.

“We’re playing well and looking good.

“It could be a little too late but I wouldn’t like to say just yet.

“Everyone’s going into the next six games to win and take maximum points and that’s what we’ll try and achieve.

“It’s a winnable game at Blackpool and the way that we’ve been playing over the last couple of months we can go there and get a win and build from there.

“We have to go up there and win and I don’t think a point is enough – it’s no good for either team.

“We don’t really want to come away from Blackpool with anything other than three points and it’s now and never.

“Everyone feels confident and like we can go into the game and win.

“We’re a good side but we’ve been very inconsistent this season.

“If we could have been like that all season, we could have been up there.

Gilbey scored for Colchester in their 2-2 opening-day game against Blackpool at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The former Gilberd School pupil feels he has progressed as a player since the U’s draw against the Seasiders, last August.

“I started the season well and it was nice to score on the first day,” added Gilbey.

“It was a fair result in the end although I can remember the game quite well and I think we could have nicked it.

“I had a bit of a downstage when I picked up a hamstring problem and was trying to get back to fitness and then I got sent off (at Southend).

“That’s what happens in football and it’s whether or not you can pick yourself up and go again and over the last six or seven games, I think I’ve done that and given a good account of myself.”