Colchester United head coach John McGreal was delighted for hat-trick hero Kurtis Guthrie after he helped the hosts to an impressive 4-1 triumph over Carlisle United.

Guthrie bagged his first-ever Football League treble and Chris Porter also scored, as the U's made it five successive wins in League Two to move into the play-off places.

McGreal said: “It was great to see Kurtis score his hat-trick; he could have had it a bit earlier but it was great for him.

“Kurtis can adapt – he has an opportunity to play in the Football League and he’s taking it.

"To score three against a top, top team, you have to be in and around it (the man of the match).

"Slats (Craig Slater) was fantastic as well and one or two others against a top team.

"It was a terrific performance."

Colchester are now unbeaten in eight matches and boss McGreal says he is pleased to get the supporters singing, following another impressive display at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

"We want to try and do things for our fans," he said.

"I think that's four home wins on the bounce now and now hopefully we're getting the fans to cheer a bit louder, which they've done of late.

"They've been absolutely terrific both home and away and we just want to keep doing that.

"Hopefully, the more performances we put in the better it will be."

Colchester have moved into the play-off places having found themselves in the relegation zone little more than six weeks ago but McGreal is not getting too carried away.

He added: “We don’t really want to get above ourselves as we’ve moved such a big distance in such a short space of time.

“We have to stay focused and there are still 20-odd games left to go.

“But as long as we keep working hard on the training pitch, applying ourselves in the right way and developing good habits, we’ll have a good go.”