Colchester United head coach John McGreal insists they still have plenty to play for this season despite their disappointing 3-1 defeat at Notts County this afternoon.

The U’s now lie five points adrift of the play-off places in League Two with six games remaining, after Shola Ameobi’s brace helped the Magpies secure a deserved win at Meadow Lane.

Colchester host Stevenage next weekend and boss McGreal says there is no way either him or his players will be letting up in their quest to make the top seven.

McGreal said: “We still have six games left with the majority at home and it’s not over yet.

“There’s no way I’m chucking the towel in.

“We’ll be looking for a reaction next Saturday and with the way this division is, I’m sure it will go right down to the wire.

“The season is not over and we’ll keep going and try and get the three points next week.”

Haydn Hollis gave Notts County an early lead and although Chris Porter netted a stunning equaliser, Ameobi bagged two goals either side of half-time to condemn Colchester to defeat.

“The best side on the day won,” added McGreal.

“I thought we had a bit of a go in the second half and we kept in it by getting the equaliser.

“But like the Crewe game, we gave them a start which we tend to be doing and we’re giving away poor goals to the opposition.

“Notts County are doing quite well at home at the minute and it’s tough to get back.

“We got back into it well and steadied it a little bit but then we conceded another poor goal.

“That’s where we’re at, at the minute trying to get that consistency level at home and away.

“Their two forwards were hot today especially (Shola) Ameobi, who I thought was absolutely terrific.

“It’s all about reacting and keeping the lads positive and we’ll go again with the home match against Stevenage, next week.

“We conceded a poor first goal after seven minutes.

“It was a long free-kick from the keeper which we should be dealing with and we didn’t deal with those balls in the first half especially and then you’re on the back foot.

“We worked all week on trying to get a high tempo start but it didn’t happen.

“Chris Porter got us back into the game and gave us that foothold but then we gave another poor goal away again.

“They kept putting it in and around our box and we didn’t deal with it well enough in the first half, although we did in the second half.”