Colchester United are unbeaten under interim boss Wayne Brown

This time around, he was at it again and much like his Maldon and Tiptree side’s surprise win over Leyton Orient back in 2019, this was a triumph for Colchester United that was fully deserved.

Brown’s animated celebrations with the U’s fans after the 1-0 victory said much about the new-found connection between the club and the supporters, which has quickly been reestablished.

In Colchester's four-game unbeaten run under the interim head coach, his assistant Joe Dunne and academy boss Dave Huzzey, the disconnect that had appeared prior to Brown's appointment appears to have been rectified, at least in the short term.

And it is not only U's supporters who are seemingly buying into Brown and his coaching team; the players clearly are, too.

Colchester's deserved victory at Orient, given to them courtesy of Freddie Sears' clinical early strike, was another commendable team performance, where everyone played their part.

Yes, there were certain individuals that stood out.

Sears' all-round performance was excellent again, the reunited central defensive partnership between Tommy Smith and Tom Eastman was rock solid and goalkeeper Sam Hornby pulled off two excellent saves.

However, it was the U's team ethic that was the key factor once again, much like it had in the 3-0 victory at Salford City in Brown's first game in charge.

That workmanlike attitude and determination is a reflection of Brown and Dunne's attitude, the bare minimum requirement of their sides.

And the character they have shown over recent games has also been impressive.

Emyr Huws, John Akinde and Alan Judge, all of whom may well have started at Orient, were all unavailable for the game, adding to the likes of Luke Chambers, Shamal George and Noah Chilvers in being absent.

And when Tom Dallison, so impressive since arriving from Crawley Town in last month's transfer window, was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced at short notice by Smith, it was another test of the U's resolve, as was the loss of midfielder Cole Skuse just before half-time with a nasty head injury.

But they passed with flying colours and their ability to overcome adversity - a week after scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against Swindon Town to claim an unlikely point with only nine men - is a welcome trait.

Prior to Brown's appointment, Colchester were struggling in front of goal and that in turn seemed to be having an impact on their ability to keep the ball out of the net, at the other end.

But under Brown, the U's have scored in all four of the games in which he has been in charge and have conceded only twice, in that time.

Colchester's experience also came to the fore at Orient, too.

They managed the game very well – the experience of the likes of Smith, Eastman and Sears played its part in that.

Add to that the organisation and all-round discipline of the team and it is a recipe for an improved run of form that is lifting them away from the danger zone.

It all bodes well for improving Colchester, who are eight points above the League Two relegation places ahead of their trip to play Mansfield Town, on Tuesday night.

Without doubt, Brown has galvanised this previously under-performing U's squad - and his players are clearly buying into it.