WAYNE Brown said he was proud of his Colchester United players following their outstanding 3-0 triumph at Salford City, this afternoon.

Goals from Luke Chambers, Myles Kenlock and substitute Corie Andrews sealed the U's a thoroughly-deserved win at Moor Lane, in Brown's first game in interim charge.

The victory has lifted Colchester six points above the League Two relegation zone, after they won for the first time in eight league matches.

Brown said: "The lads did themselves proud today.

"We knew that it was going to be a tough game.

"Salford are flying high and they're on a good little run.

"We knew they were going to be direct and that we needed to stand up to that, win our individual battles, win our first balls and anticipate second balls.

"But we also knew that the way that they play, there would be opportunities for us to counter attack.

"I thought we did that very well at times and it shows the fitness levels of the players, bearing in mind that they played on Tuesday as well.

"But what pleased me the most was the character and determination to keep that clean sheet.

"I'm proud of them and they should be proud of themselves."

Colchester started and finished the game superbly and set the tone when Cole Skuse's long-range effort rattled a post, in the opening minutes.

Freddie Sears and Alan Judge had also gone close before Chambers gave the U's a 30th-minute lead, while the visitors also had a penalty appeal rejected when Judge appeared to be impeded in the area.

Kenton went onto double Colchester's lead soon after Chambers' opener, before substitute Andrews put the icing on the cake with a smart finish late on.

"We asked for a reaction," said Brown.

"Sometimes when a new man comes in charge, you get a bounce off the lads and that was the plan.

"The all-important bit today though was the start of the game, how we started and our mentality - taking the game to them, don't be sitting ducks, concentrate on what we're doing.

"I thought we did that in abundance and it was evident to see, with the chances that we created.

"I don't think we've scored many from set-pieces this year, so that's a real big pleasing aspect.

"It's something that we've worked on in the short time that we've had.

"Even Skusey's chance; we knew that they drop back into the box and didn't really mark so we knew that the cutback was on.

"We cut it back, Skusey hit the post and on another day, it goes in.

"It's really pleasing and the lads have taken that information on board and carried it out.

"Everyone knows that Judgey has got that in the locker - he doesn't disappoint and not only was he good from set plays, he also put another good shift in for the team.

"Both Luke Chambers and Tom Dallison were immense and Chambo's goal was the icing on the cake.

"Both centre-halves knew that they would be in a tough game against big Smith who is a massive asset for them and a big handful but we dominated them at times and competed really well against them."