Head coach John McGreal said he was proud of his Colchester United players and the way they had produced a dynamic display to put Northampton Town to the sword.

It was an impressive show on the road from the U’s as they made sure that errors that had cost them in their previous two League Two games weren’t made again and they romped to a 4-0 victory.

Colchester had held half-time leads in their last two outings and had been overhauled in both, but they made sure they weren’t this time.

Frank Nouble’s first-half strike was added to by goals from Abo Eisa – on his debut after joining on loan on Wednesday – Kane Vincent-Young and Sammie Szmodics and McGreal was delighted with his team’s display.

He said: “We always look as though we can score and we have had a run of scoring in the first half of games but then not pushing on.

“But we do always look as though we can score.

“The first goal was from another set piece and that’s 18 we’ve got now from set pieces with either first or second phase.

“It gave us the platform and you then saw the boys play some really good counter-attacking football.

“I just thought the pace and the way we went through the thirds was a joy to watch.

“We are a young dynamic footballing team and I was really proud of the boys.”

Also key to the victory was a solid defensive performance as Colchester kept a deserved clean sheet and the U’s boss was quick to highlight a crucial save by keeper Rene Gilmartin that preserved his team’s lead just after half-time.

“We needed a save off Rene just before the second goal came,” added McGreal. “We talk about fine margins and that was another.

“The week before, we put one just past the post that would have put is 2-0 up and it would have become a different game, but we made the save and also built on it this time.

“We didn’t crumble.

“Things have been said about the team and they do listen to it and read things, but that save came up and they just grew from it as a team.

“The next minute, we were counter-attacking again and it was terrific.”