DANNY Cowley insists Colchester United’s home form will be crucial in their battle to beat the drop – starting with today’s home clash with Newport County.
The U’s are aiming to make home advantage count as they strive to stay in League Two, with six of their remaining nine games at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Colchester have won only four home league games this season but are yet to lose at the venue under the Cowleys, with all four of their games at the Community Stadium ending in draws.
U’s head coach Cowley said: “You always want your home ground to be a fortress.
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“Since we've been in, the 11 games, seven have been away.
“So we haven't been able to find the rhythm we would've liked through nobody's fault, it's just been the situation.
“But absolutely, we would like our home ground to be a place where we can pick up wins.
“In the four games we've had at home, the support has been brilliant.
“We’re unbeaten, in my world, at home which has been really good. I definitely would like to turn some of those draws into wins.
“The support at home has been incredible, I can remember the Forest Green game, I could really feel the connection building.
“Against Walsall, who were a good team, we went toe-to-toe with them, they were the in-form team in the division at the time and the support, the way they drove the players energy was incredible.
“We've definitely going to need more of the same.
“Nine games, six at home, is something we're really looking forward to.
“Our performances have been pretty good. The Accrington game, we draw again, it felt like a loss, to a team that didn't have a shot on our goal. That was a real hard one to take.
“The Forest Green game, the way we come back 3-2 up and leading was another I felt we should've taken a win from.
“The Bradford game was very early in our tenure, we certainly got better as the game went on, and the Walsall game - our last outing at home - was a good performance against a good team in this division.”
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Colchester head into their clash with Newport on the back of an impressive away draw at league leaders Mansfield Town, last weekend.
The U’s showed their battling qualities at the One Call Stadium and boss Cowley admits they will need to show more of the same, between now and the end of the season.
“The players bring that competitiveness, for sure,” added Cowley.
“We're the youngest team in our division.
“If Samson had been fit the last 12 weeks we would've been the youngest in the whole league, all 72 teams which is brilliant for the club moving forward.
“If you have young players in your building, that are humble and hard-working that want to get better, which all of ours are, this bodes really well for the future for this club.
“That is my favourite stat.
“We have to help the team to become a bit more streetwise.
“The boys, young players that have come through development football, it's not always about winning, even if you look at our society and education system, it's almost frowned upon to win, we live in a world where certificates are given out for participation.
“Winning is a skill, I teach my children to win and certainly teach my team to win.
“What does winning look like? How do you win?
“How you win against Mansfield Town, who are top of the division, is maybe different to how you win playing somebody else in the league.
“Having the ability to be adaptable, be clever, intelligent and get the game on your side, is all things winning footballers are able to do on a consistent basis.”
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