Colchester United interim boss Wayne Brown on Rochdale point

The U's looked like they were heading for victory, after Alan Judge had given them the lead with a spectacular long-range strike, early in the second half.

But Dale equalised through Conor Grant with 14 minutes remaining, to ensure the points were shared in the League Two clash, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It means Colchester are now three games unbeaten under interim boss Brown and eight points above the relegation zone, following the draw.

Brown said: "We want to win every game, just like every team does up and down the country.

"But we've come into the environment and we've won one and drawn two.

"There's got to be a bit of energy and positivity.

"We're on an unbeaten run and it's something that we can take into Saturday's game (against Leyton Orient).

“We do need to take our chances but it was important that we didn’t lose the game.

“If we can’t win games of football, then we don’t lose them and that's exactly what we did.

“I felt that after a really tough first half and give them credit, they did well at what they did, we held on in at times and we weathered a bit of a storm.

“We didn’t really affect the game in possession as much as I’d have liked.

"But give the lads credit, because they came out in the second half a little bit of a different team.

“We tweaked the formation a little bit and we got a lot of joy and had a number of good chances.

“Emyr (Huws) has had one from seven or eight yards, Searsy (Freddie Sears) has had a one-on-one which got caught under his feet and also had another one, 16 yards out.

“We could have been two or three up.

"You have to capitalise when you're on top of games and I'm sure they're saying the same thing, about periods of the first half."

Judge's second goal of the season is a contender for Goal of the Season.

The former Republic of Ireland playmaker collected Myles Kenlock’s pass and from nearly 30 yards out, unleashed a spectacular first-time effort that dipped over Coleman and in.

"It was some strike and that's what he's got in the locker," said Brown, who made four changes to his starting line-up against Rochdale.

"He's been at a good level for most of his career and that's why - because he can produce stuff like that.

"Something special like that in a game of football does give lads belief and then there's a little bit of buy-in from everyone.

"It gives everyone a bit of a boost and a bit of confidence and we do create a couple of chances after that.

"You need to put them away when you're on top but there were a lot of tired bodies out there.

"If you look at the players that we've brought in, most haven't played a lot of football.

"Emyr Huws hadn't played for months and we've asked him to play five or six games on the spin now.

"Myles Kenlock's last game was November and he's played three games on the bounce.

"They also played with nine men for a period in the game (against Swindon).

"This isn't an excuse; this is reality, this is fact and it's something that we need to manage because we go again on Saturday and we want them to go out there and produce."

Brown was disappointed Colchester were not awarded a stoppage-time penalty, after substitute Corie Andrews appeared to be clattered by Rochdale defender Jeriel Dorsett, just inside the area.

Brown added: "It looked like a penalty.

"You've only got to see where the ball ended up and the direction the ball went and Corie was flattened.

"Whether or not he was in or outside the box is debatable.

"But not only do we not get the decision; then Corie has to come off with a head injury, he (referee Craig Hicks) rolls it to the keeper who brings the ball halfway up the pitch and puts it in our box.

"So it was like double jeopardy.

"It was disappointing that we didn't get it but we're not hiding behind a decision that we didn't get in the game."