RELIEVED Frank Nouble admitted Colchester United’s timely victory against Carlisle United was a “weight off our backs”.

The U’s notched their first win in 15 League Two matches at a foggy JobServe Community Stadium on Tuesday.

They are 20th in the table but ten points above the drop zone and second-from-bottom Barrow.

Nouble admitted the victory was much-needed and said: “It’s a weight off our backs.

“Carlisle scored early but we knew in the back of our minds that in their last games, they’d scored first and lost a few so it was just about staying in the match.

“That’s what we did and we said in training that we needed a goal to go in off someone’s shin or for a decision to go our way. Confidence has been low but we’re just trying to find ways of generating it somehow.

“We’ve got so many talented players here; it’s just about switching that button on.

“I wanted the boys to celebrate and I’ve been preaching communication, to keep talking to each other and try not to listen too much to the outside noise.

“We’re as frustrated as everyone else because we’re always feeling it on the pitch, so to get the win feels like the start of a semi-new season for the last 15 games. It was a huge relief.”

Gazette: Colchester Utd 2-1 Carlisle Frank Nouble goes down for the penalty

Nouble left Colchester to join Plymouth Argyle last August but returned to north Essex on loan in February.

The 29-year-old is delighted to be back and wants to play his part between now and the end of the campaign.

“I’ve come back because I love the club,” he said.

“I just don’t want to be in this position, like anyone else.

“Whatever I can do to help, I’ll do it and I’ve told the manager I’ll play anywhere – whatever it is, I’m ready to go.

“We’re fighting and we’ll keep going until the end.

“The manager’s a very vocal man and I’m sure he was like that when he was playing.

“He doesn’t want anyone to be quiet and it doesn’t matter if you’re 16 or 35.

“In tough times, communication helps.

“It puts the opposition off and makes them feel like we’re on it, so I think that was key.”

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