COLCHESTER United legend Karl Duguid is backing his former team-mate Wayne Brown to steer them away from relegation danger.

The U’s head into their home clash with Tranmere Rovers this weekend sitting eight points above the League Two relegation zone, with eight games remaining.

Colchester Hall of Fame member Duguid, who clinched a historic promotion with interim boss Brown under Phil Parkinson in the 2005-06 season, was at the JobServe Community Stadium to see his former club lose 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers on Monday night.

And the ex-U’s captain, who made more than 450 appearances during his two different spells for the club, believes his former colleagues can guide them to safety.

Duguid said: “I played alongside Browny for many years and I worked with Joe (Dunne) with the first team so I know his beliefs and the way he is.

“Browny has got his beliefs as well - they're both winners and it’s those characters who can bring it out in others.

“I know that they’re both passionate people - they’re real football people.

“They’re both captain material if you like and they’ll do their utmost to pick the lads up again.

Gazette:

“I’m sure there are people within that group like Chambers and Skuse (pictured below) who can also do that and that needs to come from within as well.

“But they’ve been in this kind of situation before so it’s not like it’s an unknown thing to them.

“They’ll know how to deal with it I expect whereas some teams don’t.

“There’s a lot of encouraging signs.

Gazette:

“They’ve got to pick them up again for Saturday, because it’s another tough game.

“It’s a long season - they’ve got enough quality to be in this division next season for sure but it’s about brushing up in both boxes.”

Colchester head into their home clash with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday looking to return to winning ways, following their defeat to Forest Green.

Matty Stevens’ ninth-minute header proved the difference between the two sides but the U’s stayed in the game and substitute Junior Tchamadeu almost rescued them a point when his shot struck a post, late on.

“I think you could see why Forest Green are where they are and why Colchester are where they are,” said Duguid, who is currently in joint charge of Pitching In Isthmian League division north side Coggeshall Town, along with former Spurs defender Stuart Nethercott.

“Forest Green started off extremely well in the first 15 to 20 minutes and it was a little bit uncomfortable watching really!

Gazette:

“They had a number of decent opportunities and the goal was a fantastic cross.

“It could have been defended better obviously but it was a great ball into the box and they did that a lot while at the other end, Colchester’s delivery into the box just wasn’t there and that was the difference between the teams that are up there and the teams that are further down the league.

“It’s the quality moments at the right times, in games.

“Colchester had some opportunities but it’s that belief thing.

“Did they ever really believe that they were going to beat Forest Green?

Gazette:

“I spoke to Browny afterwards and it’s difficult when you’re down there because every other game, you’re picking the lads up again.

“You get a fantastic result against one team and then the next week, it’s not quite as good and they take that as a real big hit and they hurt more.

“When you’re up the top, you just crack on and you know it’s going to come.

“Since Browny came in, they’re always in the game if that makes sense.

“No-one has absolutely turned them over and at the end, you might nick something.”