Colchester United skipper Harry Pell looking for points

Pell heads back to his former club Cheltenham Town tomorrow, having played a big part in helping the U’s pull to the brink of Football League safety, after vital back-to-back wins.

Colchester are nine points above the relegation zone, with three games remaining and win at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium will guarantee their fourth-tier status.

Pell said: “It’s a bit of a joke that we’ve found ourselves in this situation.

“We should never have been in this situation and there’s still a little bit more to do until we can officially say that it’s done.

“The one word that probably springs to mind is mentality.

“We’ll see a lot from individuals, with three games to go.

“It’s definitely not over and we still need to put some points on the board.

“There’s a lot of people out of contract and a lot of people with their own thing going on, a lot of different situations.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty of what’s going on at the moment surrounding the club so we need to brush all of that off and as a collective all pull in the same direction.

“We deserved the criticism and we’re where we are for a reason.

“I didn’t join this football club to be in this sort of situation.

“I’m looking forward to the last three games and taking the last two performances going forward but you can’t switch it on and off – it needs to be on all season.

“As a club, we’ve proven we can do it in previous years but this season, we just haven’t done it."

Pell scored Colchester’s second goal in their crucial derby win over Southend, on Tuesday night.

The vital 2-0 victory helped the U’s pull away from the danger zone, while leaving their Essex neighbours starting relegation into the National League in the face.

“It’s a little bit like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” said Pell, who has made 88 league and cup appearances for Colchester since joining them from Cheltenham, in 2018.

“It was a real swing of emotion because after the game on Tuesday – absolutely elated for the fans who really importantly have had their good bit of the season, because the season has been a struggle on and off the pitch.

“They’ve had their moment and us as players have had our moment and then you get back in the dressing room and I don’t want to over cheer, because I’ve just stayed up in League Two.

“That’s not the reason why I came to this football club.

“There was a real difference in emotions but I’m really proud and glad that we got that game out of the way and we did it the way we did it.

“I thought we were really professional, we stuck to the game plan and it’s always good to get one over your rivals.

“I’m really happy with the last two performances and I do feel I’ve stamped a bit of authority on those games.

“They’re massive, massive games and there are 46 games in a season…we haven’t turned up for a lot of them which is really disappointing.

“It’s something that the club is definitely going to have to have a look at because moving forward, this club definitely shouldn’t be where we are.”

Pell was the victim of a strong challenge from Jason Demetriou which led to the Southend man being shown a straight red card in the second half of Colchester’s derby victory.

But the U’s midfielder insists there are no hard feelings over the challenge.

He said: “How many times have I done those tackles!

“I don’t actually mind them – I didn’t get hurt and I was completely fine, to be fair.

“I probably made a meal of it.

“I understand their mental state in the game – they were desperate and if the shoe was on the other foot…I’m one of those characters that loves a tackle and likes to put myself about, so no hard feelings.”

Pell played nearly 150 games during his three-year spell at second-placed Cheltenham and is happy to see his former club doing well.

However, the 29-year-old still wants to claim a victory over the Robins tomorrow.

“They’re a real force,” added Pell, who won promotion to the Football League with the Robins in 2016.

“I speak to some of their players now and the whole club are pulling in the same direction.

"I think they've nailed that this year and they've done really well.

"I really do hope they get promoted but let’s face the facts, I’ll be going there on Saturday to disappoint!

“There’s really good people there – I’d be happy for the chairman, for some of the individuals in the team, some of the staff and they’re not where they are just because of luck.

“They are where they are because they’ve worked absolutely hard and they’re organised and it’s going to be a really tough afternoon because they really do get in your face and they have their game plan.

“They’re a very good team but I’m looking forward to going there.”