Alex Gilbey has urged Colchester United to show their nasty side when they take on Sheffield United tonight.

The skilful midfielder admits the U’s have a reputation for being a nice team in League One.

Gilbey believes they must cast off that image at Bramall Lane - and show they mean business as they go in search of their first win of the season.

He said: “If you look at us, people would say we’re a nice team.

“It’s something a lot of clubs would say about us before they play us.

“But it’s also how you do the ugly stuff which helps you really make a name for yourself in the game, as a club or as a player.

“That has to be much better and we tend to go into games trying to play the pretty football too much.

“We have to win the second balls more and that will give us space on the ball to play our nice football.

“Playing against Sheffield United will be very tough and we’ll have to do the nasty stuff.”

For more on this story and a full preview of the U's game at Sheffield United, see Tuesday's Daily Gazette.