COLCHESTER United leading scorer Sammie Szmodics admits he does not expect his old boss Danny Cowley to demand anything other than a win for Lincoln City today.

But the U's attacker says they want victory just as much as their hosts - and believes they are more than capable of claiming a precious three points at Sincil Bank.

Colchester know that they must win this afternoon and hope other results elsewhere go in their favour in order to clinch a League Two play-off place.

Szmodics, who played under Lincoln boss Danny and his assistant Nicky during a loan spell at Braintree Town in 2015, says he does not expect his former manager to give an inch today.

Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is targeting three points - and then seeing how rivals Newport County and Exeter City get on in their respective games against Morecambe and Forest Green Rovers.

Szmodics said: "When we played Lincoln last season, there were 10,000 people there and it was a great atmosphere.

"They've done their work and they're champions of the league.

"I've worked with Danny and Nicky Cowley at Braintree and I know that they won't take their foot off the accelerator.

"It's the last game of the season and they'll want to win.

"But as a team, we're really capable of going there and winning and leaving it up to other teams to see where we end up."

Colchester head into their vital final game three points off the play-off positions.

John McGreal's side had occupied a top-four place for much of the first half of the season but a dip in form in the opening weeks of 2019 dented their chances of promotion.

"At Christmas time we were in the automatics and everyone looks back and thinks where we could be or where we should be," said former Stanway School pupil Szmodics.

"But the season has panned out the way it's panned out and this team does have a bit about it.

"We've kept getting a chance and something is still going in our favour.

"We know we have to win but we've had that over the last few games now."