FRANK Nouble admits Colchester United must back performances up with results as they continue their League Two promotion push.

The U’s attacker insists they have played well in recent games, despite a run of one win in their last six matches.

Colchester lie sixth in the table and five points off the automatic promotion places following their 3-2 home defeat against Mansfield Town and former West Ham forward Nouble says they must do all they can to pick up points, in their chase for a top-seven finish.

Nouble said: “It’s all about results now.

“We’re playing well and even in the games that we didn’t win in the last month or so, we’ve done alright but we’re just not getting over the line.

“We’ve scored a few goals now in our last few games but we don’t really concede three at home.

“We just need to go away this week and work and improve and hopefully get the results that we need.

“We’re a good team and we’ll keep going until the end.

“It doesn’t matter whether people believe in us or not, we’ll keep going and working and following what the gaffer wants us to do.

“Other teams have got games in hand, which is frustrating.

“But at the same time, we know we have to play some more of the top six and if we can take points off them, I’m sure we’ll be alright.”

Colchester looked like they were on course for an important win against Mansfield, after going 2-0 up inside the opening half hour.

But the Stags hit back in the second half, scoring three times in the space of 28 minutes to win.

“They’re one of the better teams in the league and it felt like a good game to be involved in,” said Nouble, who along with right-back Ryan Jackson has been the U’s most regular league starter so far, this season.

“We were up for it and I’m sure they were but in the end, the result has gone their way so we just have to go again.

“We played well and I’m sure anyone who watched the game enjoyed it, whether a supporter or a neutral.

“It was just frustrating losing a game like that.

“They scored three similar goals – tap-ins from crosses – so we have to work on that.

“But at the same time, it’s January and we know where we want to be this season so we just have to keep working.

“I know that we keep saying that but our first-half performance and the first ten minutes of the second half were positive, against a good side.

“The main thing is that we created chances and if we play like that, I’m sure we’ll win more games than we lose.”

Meanwhile, Nouble said he will contact Hayden White after the Mansfield defender suffered a suspected broken ankle in the U’s defeat.

White was injured following Nouble’s challenge in the closing stages of the Stags’ 3-2 win.

Nouble added: “I hope he’s OK – I know him and Jacob Mellis and a few of the other boys so I’ll give him a text.

“I tried to get the ball but I hit him – I hope he’s OK.”