DREY Wright says he and his Colchester United team-mates have already seen the benefits of having “a real honest discussion” about their nine-game winless run.

The U’s take a break from League Two action today as they host Chesterfield in the FA Cup first round at the Weston Homes Community Stadium when they will be looking for a first victory since a 3-2 win against Blackpool on September 10.

That winless run - the latest setback being a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth last weekend - has seen them drop down the League Two table to 18th and just two points above the relegation zone.

However, Wright said the players had had two discussions in the wake of that loss at the Pilgrims with any issues being aired and he had already seen the benefits as they made their FA Cup preparations this week.

“We had a big discussion after the game (at Plymouth) and we also did on Monday morning when we came in for training,” said the 21-year-old midfielder.

“The more senior players were the more vocal ones but a lot of people did have their own say on personal views into the situation that we’re in.

“Hopefully we’ll be better off for it.

“I think honesty was the main thing.

“A lot of players may have been keeping things bottled up, but this was a real honest discussion that let everything out into the open.

“Hopefully we’re all on the same wavelength now and know each others feelings and it comes out to be a positive thing that we’ve done.

“We went out after the chat on Monday and had a really positive training session off what had happened in the morning and on Saturday.

“It’s been evident in training during the week that people have taken notice of what others have said and we have all seem to have upped it a level.

“Hopefully it’s really helped.”

Having suffered injury torments in the last couple of seasons, FA Cup chances have been scant for the former U’s trainee, although he has been a regular member of boss John McGreal’s side this year and is hoping to make his mark on a competition that he is eager to make his debut in.

Wright added: “It’s the biggest competition in English football.

“I don’t have any particular memories, but it’s the one competition that I haven’t played in for the club and I’m hoping I can get in the team for Saturday and make my first appearance in the competition.

“I missed a few previous games through injury and a few through not getting selected so it’s nice to finally be in a position where I can compete for a place in the FA Cup.

“It’s something that’s avoided me in the last few years.

“You obviously want a good cup run. It’s a competition that everyone wants to play in so it’s an important thing and we need a win.”

“We need to get back into winning ways and this is a good opportunity to do it.”