Harry Pell insists Colchester United’s hard-earned point at Tranmere Rovers shows that they can ‘stand up and be counted’ in League Two.

The U’s stand-in captain struck just after the hour mark in the second half to secure a point for his side at Prenton Park, after they had trailed to James Norwood’s first-half opener.

Colchester, who lie fifth in the table after the 1-1 draw, are now unbeaten in four matches away from home this season and midfielder Pell feels that is a reflection of the character they have in the squad.

Pell said: “We knew this was a really difficult place to come to and if you look at our away form, it shows that we can stand up and be counted and mix it with the big boys in the league.

“One thing’s for sure – you can never question the character of the boys throughout the whole group.

“It was game management and towards the end of the game, I think we realised that a point was probably a good point for us, which we thoroughly deserved.

“There were chances there for us to win it but you have to be realistic.

“If you look at the results, teams are up and down like a yo-yo and we need to be as consistent as we can possible be.

“You look at the likes of Luton who have been up there before and they’re so consistent.

“That’s the difference between the top and the bottom half and I don’t think there’s much between the teams in this league.

“It was a massive blow not to have Pross and with Lapslie not playing either, I think they’re two massive players for us.

“But Diaz (Wright) was fantastic and for him to come in for his full league debut at his age, fair play to the lad."

Pell has now scored in each of Colchester’s last two league matches, having netted from the spot in their 3-1 triumph at Cheltenham Town seven days earlier.

“It was nice to get a goal and that’s two for the season for me now,” he said.

“I want to chip in with goals and help the team as much as I can in that aspect. We have goals all through the team.

“I didn’t know too much about it – it was just a reaction and it’s gone in off the post but they all count and I’ll definitely take it.”

Pell skippered Colchester in the absence of the suspended Luke Prosser and the former Cheltenham Town favourite said he relished the opportunity.

He said: “It was a real honour to captain Colchester.

“It’s something I’ll never shy away from.

“I love responsibility and any way I can help the team, I will.”

Pell took a nasty blow to the face shortly before he scored Colchester's equaliser which forced him to briefly wear a white bandage on his nose.

He added: "That's football. The ball was on the goal-line and I saw an opportunity to go for it and ended up with a smack on the nose."