FIACRE Kelleher believes Colchester United’s appointment of Ben Garner as head coach has provided them with the direction needed to rediscover their winning feeling.

The U’s have been without a permanent boss since Matt Bloomfield quit last Tuesday but have acted quickly to bring in the former Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town coach.

Colchester head to Bradford City tomorrow aiming to claim a first win in four matches, with Garner set to be watching from the stands.

Kelleher feels the appointment of Garner can give the U’s the focus they need to claim victory at his former club.

Kelleher said: “It’s nice to have somebody come in and take over.

“It’s been a bit up in the air since Matt (Bloomfield) left unexpectantly so it’s good to have a bit of direction and hopefully we can get back to winning ways.

“I’ve watched his teams a few times and see that they like to play from the back.

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“It’s a different style of play to what we’re currently doing so I’m sure he’ll probably come in and chase something similar so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully, he’ll introduce a more exciting style of football that hopefully, our fans will enjoy.

“As much as Ross, Wardy (Elliott Ward) and Dave (Huzzey) have done a really good job, as a player when things are up in the air it can be a bit difficult sometimes, especially when it’s as unexpected as it was.

“This kind of steadies the ship and gives us a direction and hopefully, we can get back on track.

“Matt Bloomfield wasn’t the only reason I signed for Colchester.

“Just look at the facilities – you wouldn’t have this anywhere else in League Two.

“The whole environment here is incredible and the group of lads that are really good.

“All of those factors are still in place and it’s still really good, off the pitch and it’s still a really happy place.”

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Colchester have been punished for defensive errors in their last two games and have struggled at the other end, having failed to score in their last three matches.

Kelleher said: “I think the changeover between Matt Bloomfield and Ross (Embleton) coming in that maybe the set pieces weren’t as organised as maybe they should have been.

“We kind of let ourselves down with that aspect the other day (against Northampton) and we conceded from one.

“We just need to get back making sure that everything is organised before the game and that people are doing their jobs right.

“Confidence is a big thing, at the moment.

“We’re not scoring a whole lot of goals; we’ve had some really good play but we’ve not really had that cutting edge that we need, to find a way to stick the ball in the back of the net.

“Hopefully once that comes, you’ll start to see us a lot more confident and a lot more chances as well.

Gazette:

“The way we were playing was perhaps a bit longer and with less control of the game, so we had a lot more breaks against us and we also missed some experience with Skusey and Chambo there as well, because they’ve been there so many times before.

“They had a clearer head sometimes and that calmness which you need sometimes.

“We’re learning that now ourselves and hopefully, we’ll play with a bit more control at the weekend.”

Kelleher returns to Bradford this weekend for the first time since leaving them to join Colchester, in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old spent 18 months with the Bantams, making 11 appearances but had a loan spell at Solihull Moors, in the first half of the current campaign.

“I had a good time at Bradford,” said Kelleher, who has made eight appearances for Colchester so far, scoring twice.

“I didn’t play many games there but the staff and the players are really good and I enjoyed my time.

“But I won’t be focusing a whole lot on that tomorrow.

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“We need to go there and try and get three points and try and get ourselves up that table again.

“I enjoyed my time there – I was treated really well there but sometimes for whatever reason, it just doesn’t work out.

“I didn’t get a whole lot of chances in my opinion but there’s so many good players there and it’s hard for me and the manager to make decisions.

“But they were good enough to let me come here and I left there with a lot of good memories.

“I came here to play and help the team as much as I can.

“It took a few games to get in and rightly so, because the lads were playing so well.

“I’ve tried to come in and show what I can do and so far anyway, it’s gone not too bad for me.

“I’m just looking to kick on.

“The goals have helped to give me a boost and confidence as well as keeping a couple of clean sheets.

“I just want to get back to winning games really.

“The last two have kind of hurt and I just want to get that winning feeling back.”