COLCHESTER United recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time since April 2021 after they came from behind to beat ten-man Scunthorpe United 3-1 this afternoon.

Noah Chilvers' brace and Owura Edwards' strike helped the U's recover to claim a valuable three points at Glanford Park, after Joe Nuttall had given the Iron an early lead.

It was a big win for Wayne Brown's side in their bid to avoid relegation from League Two and gives their chances of survival a huge boost.

The win leaves the U's eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Colchester made three changes to their side for the game against Scunthorpe.

Skipper Tommy Smith returned to the starting line-up, as did Owura Edwards and Cole Skuse.

Tyreik Wright dropped to the bench as a result, while Tom Dallison and Emyr Huws were not in the 18.

Colchester started the afternoon five points above the relegation zone, with their hosts nine points adrift of safety.

It was the U’s who made the brighter start and they felt they should have had a penalty in the fifth minute when Cameron Coxe tumbled under Ryan Delaney's challenge in the area, after a fine run by the right-back.

Brendan Wiredu fired over from an offside position soon after before Luke Hannant blasted wastefully over at the far post in the ninth minute, after the lively Owura Edwards had done well to get to the byline and pick him out.

But Colchester fell behind against the run of play in the 12th minute.

Liam Feeney got the better of Myles Keylock and crossed for Nuttall to tap in from two yards.

Colchester tried to respond positively to going behind but they largely lacked quality in the final third, before the break.

The closest they came to equalising before half-time was when Hannant failed to properly connect at the far post, after Noah Chilvers had made good progress down the right and delivered a low cross.

But the U’s were given cause for hope, ten minutes before the interval.

Having been booked for a foul on Hannant earlier in the half, Scunthorpe right-back Luke Matheson was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

Nevertheless, Colchester went in trailing at the break and the hosts made a change at the interval, bringing on Emmanuel Onariase at right-back following Matheson's red card.

The U's made a decent start to the second half and Chilvers' shot flew just over from 20 yards, before the visitors made a double change, sending on attacking duo Wright and John Akinde in a bid to force an equaliser.

And it came on the hour mark through Chilvers, who won possession midway inside his own half and drove at the Scunthorpe defence before drilling a fine shot past Watson.

Colchester pushed hard for a winner after that.

Chilvers cut inside on the left before drilling in a shot that was pushed away by keeper Watson at his near post.

And Watson was called into action again soon after, making a fine save to deny Brendan Wiredu and then recovering to deny Freddie Sears' follow-up. 

Colchester eventually went ahead midway through the second half.

Edwards slotted a precise low shot past Watson and in after being picked out by Sears, following a fine U's attacking move. 

And there was better to come for Colchester, nine minutes later.

Chilvers dived to head home Edwards' cross to score his second of the game and the U's third, seconds after Sears had been denied by Watson.

There was still time for substitute Tyrese Sinclair's shot from the edge of the area to rattle the bar for the hosts.

But substitute Tyreik Wright fired a good chance wide from Sears' cutback while at the other end, Nuttall's shot came off the outside of the post from close range for Scunthorpe before the end.

Feeney wastefully headed a great chance wide at the near post in stoppage-time but the U's claimed three precious points.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: George, Coxe, Chambers, Smith, Kenlock (sub Akinde, 55), Skuse, Wiredu, Chilvers, Hannant (sub Wright, 55), Edwards (sub Welch-Hayes, 77), Sears.

Subs (not used): Eastman, Tchamadeu, Andrews, Hornby.

U’s man of the match: Noah Chilvers.

Scunthorpe United: Watson, Delaney, Taft, Beestin (sub Sinclair, 65), Nuttall, Rowe, Feeney, Grant, Hackney (sub Onariase, 46), Matheson, Cribb.

Subs (not used): Bunn, Burns, Moore-Billam, Lewis, Foster.

Referee: Alan Young.

Bookings: Colchester: Chilvers (foul, 72). Scunthorpe: Matheson (foul, 27; foul, 35), Nuttall (foul, 54).

Sending off: Matheson (two bookable offences, 35).

Goals: Chilvers (61, 76), Edwards (67). Scunthorpe: Nuttall (12).