Five talking points from Colchester United's 4-0 win at Northampton Town

INSTANT IMPACTS

SEEING Colchester United make a trio of excellent additions to their squad was a boost in itself this week as it was a statement of intent from the club.

It showed they mean to give this promotion push everything they have got and they deserve credit for that.

But it was even more gratifying to see Abo Eisa, Callum Roberts and Ben Stevenson all making impacts when they saw action at Northampton Town.

It’s one thing getting talented players into the club in the January transfer window, but the nature of the beast is that they must hit the ground running.

They all certainly ticked that particular box.

LOCAL BOY DONE GOOD

THERE can’t be a single Colchester United supporter who would begrudge Sammie Szmodics the chance to play at a higher level of football.

The talent of the homegrown hero definitely deserves the chance to flourish, but let’s not pretend that we don’t enjoy seeing it shine for the U’s.

And boy did it shine at Northampton as he scored a well-taken goal and selflessly set up another in an impressive attacking display.

There was interest in Sammie shown by higher-placed clubs during the January transfer window and while he will surely move on at some point, it’s good to see him still with the U’s and we can keep cherishing him for now.

UNSUNG HERO

While it was the four goals they scored that made the headlines, it was the goalkeeping performance of Rene Gilmartin that underpinned Colchester’s win at Northampton.

In the previous two games, the U’s had been unable to hold on to leads and they may well have done the same on this occasion had it not been for their man between the sticks.

His two saves either side of half-time were spectacular and, in preserving his team’s advantage, were every bit as important in earning the three points as the quartet of strikes at the other end.

STOPPING THE ROT

BACK-TO-BACK defeats where winning positions had been squandered could have been damaging to the U’s psyche in a key moment in their push for League One.

There may have been some who were starting to question their promotion credentials on the back of results against Mansfield and Crewe as they had lost two league games in a row for the first time this season.

It was important that they nipped that in the bud and that’s why their win at Northampton could prove so much more than just the three points they claimed.

MAKING CHANGES

THERE can be nothing more gratifying for a football manager than seeing substitutions you make during a game have a positive effect on the outcome.

So John McGreal really should give himself a pat on the back after the U’s trip to Northampton.

Abo Eisa came on and scored five minutes after his introduction, Brennan Dickenson set up Sammie Szmodics’ goal two minutes after coming on and four minutes had passed between Callum Roberts coming on and earning a penalty.

Substitutions may not always work out like that, but it’s nice when they do.