Colchester United manager Kevin Keen has urged his side to produce a professional performance at bottom club Crewe Alexandra tonight.

The U’s head into the basement battle nine points adrift of safety with four games remaining and could be relegated if they lose at Gresty Road and other results go against them in League One.

Colchester look destined for the drop but despite the odds now being stacked against them, boss Keen insists he will instruct his players will keep battling until the bitter end.

Keen said: “We have to be professional and make sure that we go out and try and win that game.

“I want to get as many points as I can whatever happens and finish as high as I can and we’ll try and win our last four games.

“When we’ve still got a chance of staying in the league, then we’ll obviously be trying to stay in the league – that goes without saying.

“Crewe will be dangerous because although they’ve been relegated, their manager wants them to play for a bit of pride and start building for next season.

“Whichever team I put out, hopefully they’ll go out and play some more attacking football but be better defensively as we’ve been over the last three or four weeks.”

Keen could make changes to his starting line-up tonight, with Colchester’s trip to Crewe coming hot on the heels of their disappointing 4-1 loss at the hands of Peterborough United, last Saturday.

Darren Ambrose, Macauley Bonne and Femi Akinwande all appeared as second-half substitutes against Posh and are among those pushing for starts against Alex, while Leo Chambers is also hoping for a recall.

“I’ve seen some amazing performances in training,” added Keen.

“Darren Ambrose has been excellent, Macauley Bonne and Femi played as a front two and they were dangerous.

“We are going to need them all because Saturday-Tuesday and travelling up to Crewe is tough.

“I’m not just talking about players who can come on and win games, I need players who can come on and close out games - the subs are going to be really important.”

Colchester’s game at Crewe will be screened live at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight.

The match will be shown in the Layer Suite, with tickets priced at £8 (under-18, 65+ concession admission only, unreserved table seating), £10 (adult admission only, unreserved table seating) and £18 (admission, hot food, allocated table seating).