JOHN Akinde insists there is still confidence within the Colchester United squad that they can stay in League Two.

The U’s lost 2-1 at home to high-flying Wrexham on Saturday, leaving them a point adrift of safety with six games remaining.

Colchester pushed Wrexham hard at the weekend and took the lead through Akinde’s second-half strike, before allowing the visitors a route back into the game.

READ MORE: Colchester count the cost after letting Wrexham off the hook

It was a painful defeat but ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with leaders Stockport County, the striker says they still believe they can be successful in their survival mission.

Akinde said: “There is belief and confidence.

“Since the gaffer and Nicky (Cowley) have come in, I think it’s shown that we’re in games and challenging against the top of the league.

“We’re together and we’re ready for the battle – we’ve just got to make sure we turn those performances into wins.

“We can’t sit and moan – we’ve got another game on Tuesday night against a good team and we go again and try and make sure we right the wrongs from Wrexham.

Gazette:

“We have another six games and they’re all going to be massive.

“We have a tough opponent coming on Tuesday and we’re now looking forward to that.

“We have to make sure we’re right and in a place where we can compete and get points.”

Akinde fired Colchester ahead in the 54th minute against Wrexham.

But the Reds equalised eight minutes later through Paul Mullin, before Max Cleworth headed the visitors’ 85th-minute winner to leave U’s boss Danny Cowley seething.

READ MORE: Phil Parkinson wants Colchester to stay up after Wrexham win

“The gaffer was angry and upset after the game,” said Akinde.

“He wasn’t happy with the goals we conceded which was understandable.

“I think he’ll accept them scoring a wonder goal but in those situations, we just know that we can defend better, as a team.

“I think we performed quite well for 60 minutes but the last 30 wasn’t good enough.

“We need to do it for 90 minutes not 60 or 70 or whatever it is – they got on top and they capitalised which was quite hurtful and painful, because we performed well for large parts of the game.

Gazette:

“We’ve got to find a way as a group to turn the ‘almost’ into ‘definitely’.

“Wrexham are near the top of the league and we went toe-to-toe with them and it wasn’t an easy game for them.

“We just have to defend better as a team, score more goals and start making sure it’s three points rather than draws.”

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Wrexham defeat

Akinde netted his first Colchester league goal for nearly a year against Wrexham and is hoping to play his part, in their remaining six games of the season.

The 34-year-old added: “It was nice to score on a personal note but I would have preferred the three points.

“I want to help in any way that I can, whether it’s scoring goals, clearing one off the line, defending well, whatever it is.

“We’ve all got an end goal that we all want to achieve, so that’s the aim.”