A FORMER Colchester United academy trio pitted their wits against Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Sammie Szmodics, Frankie Kent and Kwame Poku, who all played in the U's youth set-up before progressing to their first team, all started for Posh in their 2-0 home defeat at the hands of their illustrious opponents at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Ex-U's striker Jack Marriott, who played on loan at Colchester from Ipswich Town in the 2014-15 season, also featured for Posh as a substitute in the tie.

Szmodics went close for Posh in the first half and Jeando Fuchs was denied by City keeper Ederson, before the break.

But Riyad Mahrez put City ahead with their first attempt on target, before Jack Grealish sealed City's place in the quarter-finals.

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Grant McCann's side impressed as they held their illustrious hosts at bay for an hour, but the reality of their league situation will once again come back into focus.

Posh sit bottom of the Sky Bet Championship, with McCann reappointed last week following the resignation of Darren Ferguson.

McCann has called on his players to replicate the sort of performance they showed against the Premier League champions to bolster their survival bid.

 

But he also wants to see supporters get behind the team like they did on Tuesday evening.

"It was an amazing night for the players, the club and the city," he said.

"The support we received was frightening. It was one of the the loudest I can remember at London Road.

"They just kept going and going and if they keep that up for the rest of the season it can only help us."