Colchester United moved into the League Two automatic promotion places after beating Swindon Town 1-0 this afternoon.

Sammie Szmodics' strike in first-half stoppage-time proved the difference between the two teams at the JobServe Community Stadium, as the U's claimed a third 1-0 win in their last four games.

Colchester head coach John McGreal kept the same starting line-up that beat Lincoln City 1-0, last weekend.

There were no fresh injury worries for the U’s boss to contend with, as they looked for a second successive win.

Colchester enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half but did not make the breakthrough until the fifth minute of time added on, before the break.

The U’s registered their first meaningful effort just after the midway point in the first half when Luke Norris’s downward header deflected wide for a corner following Courtney Senior’s free-kick into the box.

A minute later, Sammie Szmodics’ low effort was straight at Vigouroux from a tight angle at his near post but Swindon then registered their first shot on target when Jermaine McGlashan fired straight at U’s keeper Rene Gilmartin after James Dunne had driven the ball into the box.

Colchester suffered an injury blow late in the first half when leading scorer Norris, who had been the victim of a bad foul by Joe Romanski a few minutes earlier, went down holding his ankle and eventually had to be stretchered off and was replaced by Brennan Dickenson.

But deep into first-half stoppage-time, Szmodics clinically slotted a low shot past Vigouroux from close range after Frank Nouble had done brilliantly inside the area to set him up.

Colchester went in at the break ahead and almost doubled their lead just before the hour when Harry Pell’s 25-yard strike flashed inches wide of the post.

And the U’s went close again midway through the second half when Ryan Jackson’s fierce shot from a tight angle forced Vigouroux into a smart save at his near post.

But Swindon made all three substitutions early in the second half and it made a difference for Phil Brown’s side.

Martin Smith was only denied by a brilliant save from Gilmartin from close range, seconds after the U's had survived a penalty appeal when Jermaine McGlashan tumbled under Kane Vincent-Young's challenge in the area.

Swindon substitute Keshi Anderson then slotted a glorious chance wide unmarked from ten yards out with 15 minutes remaining, after Steven Alzate had picked him out.

Colchester still had their chances to wrap up victory as the Robins pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Frankie Kent's first time effort from Dickenson's corner flying just wide.

But despite five minutes of stoppage-time being added, the U's saw the game out to claim another three points.