DANNY Cowley insists he is paying no attention to what rival clubs are doing as he strives to keep Colchester United in League Two.

The U's are five points above the relegation zone with 12 games remaining, after Forest Green drew and bottom club Sutton United won in midweek.

Forest Green visit 22nd-placed Grimsby Town on Saturday in another key bottom-of-the-table clash, with Sutton travelling to Tranmere Rovers as the season enters its final stages.

READ MORE: Brad Ihionvien 'managing emotions' in quest for starting spot

But ahead of Colchester's home game with promotion-chasing Stockport County this weekend, U's head coach Cowley said: "I just think it's about us - there's no point me worrying about other teams.

"I can't control their destiny but I can control ours, so I'm just going to put all of my energy and efforts into helping the team.

"We're trying to get to 50 points because we know that if we get to 50 points, then that will be enough to retain our status.

"We are now only one loss in eight, so we're becoming a really competitive team and we're working really hard to turn these draws into wins.

Gazette:

"We've had two tough away games, on two really difficult pitches.

"We take the points and we move on to now what is a wonderful game against, in my opinion, the best team in the league, in Stockport."

Bradley Ihionvien is pushing for a start against Stockport after coming off the bench to score at Salford.

Cowley sent on Ihionvien and Matt Jay in the 73rd minute and they combined to score two minutes later, at Moor Lane.

"It's our job to try to impact the game and try to influence the outcome," said Cowley.

READ MORE: Colchester under-18s beaten at home by Charlton Athletic

"I suppose the more experience you get, the more feel you get of what it needs.

"We'd love to start Bradley from the beginning because he's so exciting but we're just trying to find the best way in for him, at the moment, trying to set him up for success.

"Probably coming on into games is the best way and came on and found us a typically Bradley goal."

Gazette:

Colchester will check on the fitness of Jayden Fevrier, ahead of the Stockport game.

The former West Ham youngster missed only his third league match of the season at Salford due to an impact injury.

Fellow wingers Conor Wilkinson, Harry Anderson and Owura Edwards also missed the Salford game, due to injury.

Cowley added: "It's only a kick, so we're hopeful that we can get him back because we'd like at least one winger for Saturday!"