COLCHESTER United head coach Ben Garner was pleased with his side's second-half improvement after they battled back to claim a point for the second successive game following a 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.
The U's had trailed to Harvey Saunders' 13th-minute opener for the visitors but took a share of the spoils thanks to Noah Chilvers' 65th-minute penalty, which secured the hosts a point following a fiery affair at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The draw leaves Colchester five points above the League Two relegation zone, with eight games remaining.
Garner said: “We’re disappointed because we wanted to get the win but to come back again shows the spirit we’ve got and the positive today was we created so many more chances.
“We made it hard by conceding a disappointing goal from our perspective, in the first half but in the second half I was pleased with the spirit, the commitment and the effort.
“We need to add a little bit of quality in certain areas and in certain situations but we didn’t get to grips with them in the first half well enough and conceded a really soft goal.
"There were little grey areas where people could not match up if they didn't want to and we nailed that down at half-time and made sure there were no grey areas whatsoever and players had to be a lot more accountable.
“They played a diamond and we didn’t get to grips enough with it defensively and we changed a couple of bits at half-time and were much better in the second half.
“They had a couple of counter attacks when we were pushing for the win but we created a couple of good opportunities.
"The response in the second half was great."
Colchester were aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty prior to Noah Chilvers' spot-kick equaliser when Samson Tovide appeared to be fouled by keeper Joe Murphy.
The U's teenage striker was booked for simulation by referee Carl Boyeson, much to Garner's amazement.
"We scored the penalty and we should have had two," said the U's head coach.
"I'm not sure how between them they don't give that.
"It was disappointing not to get that, because that puts us at 1-1 and then we probably go on and win the game.
"It was a penalty, 100 per cent.
"The second one I didn't see clearly at the time but it looked like he pulled his shirt.
"But for me, the first penalty was as clear as they get.
"The referee didn't have a great position; he was very deep and when he went to the linesman I thought 'perfect' because he's got to give that but he managed not to.
"He looked like he was going to give it, went to the linesman to probably confirm what he thought and the linesman said there was no contact and that he (Tovide) dived.
"We're not getting the decisions.
"We had a penalty against us last week (against Leyton Orient) that wasn't and then a stick-on today that was but we've just got to keep making sure that doesn't cost us.
"We got a point and it keeps a little gap to that bottom two and we just need to get a win or two to push us further away."
Garner added: "It was a really well-taken penalty and nice to see that one go in.
"I thought their goalkeeper (Joe Murphy) was excellent in the second half.
"He made a couple of fantastic saves and there was a great block from them.
"But the real positive today was how much we created, because games I'd watched previous to coming in and the first one or two, we haven't created massive amounts.
"We created a lot more clearcut chances today."
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