COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal insists he and his players will give basement boys Newport County “total respect”.

The Exiles are enduring a miserable run of form and have not won in ten games, since claiming maximum points at Notts County on November 19.

Colchester, in marked contrast, have stormed their way up the League Two table.

A sparkling run of five straight successes – and seven wins in eight games - has lifted them to sixth and the formbook would certainly suggest an away victory later today.

However, McGreal is taking nothing for granted and expecting a difficult afternoon.

“(Newport manager) Graham Westley is highly-experienced at this level and the level above so we know it’s going to be a tough game,” he said.

“They’ve brought in a number of players of late.

“They’ve released a few, too, so he’s trying to find that balance at the moment, which he hasn’t got at the minute.

“We hope he doesn’t find it today, though, and we’ll be doing our utmost to continue our run.

“We won’t treat it any differently to any other game.

“We’ve seen a few of their matches lately and there’s been nothing in them.

“It’s the same situation we found ourselves in, finding ourselves on the wrong end of defeats when games were tight.

“It’s a close league.

“Teams from the bottom beat teams at the top and it’ll be like that until the end of the season.

“We’ll give them total respect but we’ll certainly try and implement our way of playing.”

Colchester’s fine away form, coupled with their miserly defensive record, has been the bedrock of their recent success.

There have been some notable successes on the road, at the likes of Cheltenham, Luton and Stevenage.

And five clean sheets in their last eight games have been another key ingredient in their recovery.

“Our away record has been great, from the Cheltenham game through to the Stevenage game,” added McGreal.

“There’s an air of confidence throughout the team and our defensive record has given us a real platform.

“Hopefully that can continue because it gives us a real chance in any game.

“We’ve come a long way in a short space of time and it would be great to keep winning.

“We’re in a great position at the moment and hopefully we can build on it.

“It’s fantastic at the moment and the best thing, for me, is the way our players and fans are developing that bond.

“We see it home and away. There’s a feelgood factor.

“We have to enjoy it because when you’re enjoying your football, it comes easily to you.

“Training comes easy and preparation comes easy.

“But we can’t get carried away and have to keep putting in the hard work.

“Hopefully that’ll put us in good stead for our games.

“It’s great to hear a couple of coach-loads are going down there today and we’ll be doing our utmost to get the result for ourselves and our fans.”

McGreal admitted that a few players are nursing “aches and pains” in his squad, but he was reluctant to name names.

Assuming they are passed fit, he looks likely to name an unchanged team.

Matt Briggs and Jermaine Grandison will both step up their recoveries from injury by playing for the club’s under-23s again on Monday, against Watford.