BEN Garner believes a Colchester United win at Salford City tomorrow will be a ‘massive step forward’ in securing their EFL status.

The U’s visit the play-off-chasing Ammies lying four points above the League Two relegation zone, with five games left.

Colchester boosted their survival hopes with a thumping 4-0 triumph over Crewe Alexandra, on Easter Monday.

Ben Garner sets U's players key target in survival battle

And the U’s can take a huge step towards staying up if they can win this weekend, ahead of a crunch game at fellow strugglers Crawley Town next week.

Garner said: “If we win on Saturday, for that will be a massive, massive step forward to being secure in the league.

“I think if we win on Saturday, that will put us in a really good place and that’s our focus.

Gazette:

“I’m not going to start looking at Crawley until the final whistle, on Saturday.

“We want to take the momentum from the Crewe game into Salford. We had a run of draws that were good in some ways but frustrating in others but to get that win on Monday in such a comprehensive manner was fantastic.

“We want that momentum and form moving forward – big push into the weekend and try and follow it up with another win.

“There hasn’t been much wrong. It’s been fine margins with the odd goal here or the odd moment there.

“But it was a more complete performance on Monday, which was encouraging.

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“We want to build on that now, push on and have a really strong finish to the season and start setting some sights on next season and target the top end of the division.”

Colchester face a Salford side who currently occupy a play-off position and are four points off the automatic promotion places.

Garner added: “They’re a really strong side.

Gazette:

“It’s been well documented how much has been invested there, over the years.

“I think the way they’ve played this year has been really good.

“I think they play good football and they’ve got some really good movement and interchange and they made some really good signings, in the summer, the likes of Elliot Watt.

“But we want to focus on us mainly and follow up on a really strong performance, on Monday.

“We’re going to have to go there and perform, to come away with the three points."