DANNY Cowley praised his striker Tom Hopper after his excellent strike secured Colchester United a point in their 1-1 home draw with Bradford City this afternoon.
Hopper netted his first goal of the season just before the hour mark to cancel out Andy Cook's first-half opener for the Bantams and cap an excellent individual display.
It was the former Lincoln City forward's first home goal for the U's and head coach Cowley was delighted with Hopper's overall performance, as the hosts came from behind to secure a draw for the second successive game.
Cowley said: "I've been a manager for somewhere getting on towards 1,000 games and as number nine performances go, it was up there for me.
READ MORE: Match report as Colchester claim a 1-1 draw with Bradford
"I thought Tom was incredible.
"I thought the way he led the line...sometimes, he's got three big, really strong, physical centre-halves and you could play into him, up to him and I also thought you could play beyond him into the space for him to run into.
"I thought he was relentless with his work ethic and very, very good with his quality.
"I was just so pleased for him; he's been scoring in training all week and I had the feeling that he would score.
"I'm so pleased he did, because it was a brilliant performance."
Colchester were not at their best in the first half, with Bradford creating all of the opportunities.
But the U's were greatly improved in the second half and deserved a share of the spoils, which means they stay six points above the League Two relegation zone with 18 games remaining.
Cowley said: "We take a point; we're now two unbeaten and a run has to start from somewhere.
"We have two points and we have something to build on.
READ MORE: Colchester United 1 Bradford City 1 - as it happened
“I was pleased with all of the things that require no talent – the effort, the attitude, the fight, the willingness to put the body on the line and that always gives you a foundation to go from.
“In the first half, we didn’t show anywhere near enough courage in possession and this is something that we have to go away and keep working at.
“But in the second half, we did that and we looked a much better team.
"In the second half, our performance grew and the players have to take a lot of credit because it's not easy when you haven't played too well, in the first half.
“I just asked the boys, which half was the most enjoyable and they all said the second half.
“We played against a big, strong, direct team full of experienced players who want to load the box at every opportunity with balls and players and you have to stand up.
“Belief doesn’t come overnight; confidence is a fragile commodity and you have to work really, really hard with the players so that they feel good and when they feel good, they play good.
"This is still what we're working towards - I know they're good players but that doesn't matter, as they have got to believe in themselves."
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