COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal is demanding a repeat performance packed with "workrate, running and desire" in tonight's home showdown against Grimsby Town.

The League Two clash comes just four days after a memorable 3-0 victory against promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The classy U's produced arguably their best performance of the season in strolling to a three-goal lead at half-time, thanks to a double from Theo Robinson and an early opener from Ben Stevenson.

McGreal was full of praise for his players afterwards and now wants more of the same against the Mariners.

"It's so important to build on Saturday," said the U's boss.

"We need to match everything we did so well, in terms of our workrate, running and desire.

“We beat Swindon (3-1) the other week and then let ourselves down against Cambridge.

"But let's not forget these boys went over 100 days without getting beat in League Two (before their 2-1 defeat at the Abbey Stadium).

"We are going to lose, on occasions, and that's what happened at Cambridge.

"It wasn't the best performance but we wanted a reaction and that's what we got against Plymouth.

"We worked on things in training and the boys felt they had something to prove.

"Now we're looking forward to another big game against Grimsby.

"I’m already moving on and we know it's going to be a tough match.

"I don't know (Mariners boss) Ian (Holloway).

"Our paths haven't crossed before but I'm looking forward to it, because he's a great manager with great experience. It'll be a fantastic night."

McGreal was understandably delighted with his side's free-flowing, attacking football against Plymouth.

But he was also heartened by the way they managed the game in the second period, working hard to keep a well-earned clean sheet.

"It was a really good first-half performance and put us in a great position (to go on and win the game)," he said.

"Plymouth are a top team and they'd won five out of six, prior to Saturday.

"But some of our attacking play, and the way we played with such width, was excellent.

"We knew it was going to be tough but the boys were really up for it.

"Their big players didn't have a look-in and it was about trying to nullify that threat in the second half, because we knew they were going to come into it.

"We had to keep the squeeze on those players, which I felt we did, and they were restricted to speculative shots from outside the box."