COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal wants to see improvement from his side as they embark on their League Two play-off semi-final second leg at Exeter City.

The U’s take a 1-0 lead into their crucial game at St James Park tomorrow, with a place in next week’s play-off final at Wembley the prize for the winners.

Colchester have the edge thanks to Cohen Bramall’s late winner at the JobServe Community Stadium, last Thursday.

But U’s head coach McGreal know that a difficult challenge awaits them, in Devon.

McGreal said: “It’s a little bit of an advantage but we know that it’s going to be another tough game.

“We’ve got to improve on it, there’s no question of it.

“We’re not sitting here thinking the job’s done or half done – we have to improve on that performance.

“It’s just an advantage and we know Matt (Taylor) will have his team raring to go.

“They’re a tough team to beat at their place and they have a good home record so it’s up to us now to improve on that (first leg) performance.

“It’s a long way to Exeter. They had to do a lot of travelling to come here and we’ll have to put that into place as well but it’s a game of football.

“We know it’s going to be a tough, tough game and we need to be right.

“We need to be prepped right, as the players were (last Thursday).”

McGreal wants his side’s blend of youth and experience to come to the fore again, after it gelled well against Exeter in the first leg.

The U’s boss could have winger Callum Harriott available again after he missed the first encounter between the two sides with a tight quad.

“We’ve got a lovely blend of experience in there,” said McGreal.

“We’ve said it throughout the season and at the right time, the experience has come along with the youth.

“I thought we just shaded that side of it with that little bit of quality and I thought the two boys up top (Luke Norris and Frank Nouble) led the line brilliantly well for us.

“You know you have to put in a defensive performance against Matt’s teams because you know they keep coming and they keep knocking on the door.

“We know we have to mirror that defensive performance, on Monday.”