PLAYERS with character is what Colchester United boss Paul Lambert said he wants and that's exactly what he had as the U's won back-to-back games for the first time this season in Coca-Cola League One.
The U's showed plenty of character to hold off a spirited Northampton comeback at the Sixfields Stadium to build on their home win against Yeovil in midweek.
First-half goals by Clive Platt, his fourth of the season, and Paul Reid's first for the club sent the U's in leading 2-0 at the break on a bitterly cold afternoon.
Both came from headers and the U's deservedly held the advantage when the goals went in midway through the half.
However, the Cobblers ended the opening period the stronger and reduced the deficit within seven minutes of the restart when Danny Jackman's 25-yard free-kick took a big deflection to take it past Jimmy Walker in the visitors' goal.
Walker, who joined the U's on loan from West Ham on Thursday, was in the starting line-up in place of the injured Dean Gerken, along with Marc Tierney, another loanee who arrived before the loan transfer window shut.
Both made solid debuts in Colchester colours.
It was the hosts who looked most likely to make it on to the scoresheet as the game wore on, though.
However, despite some intense pressure, Colchester stood tall to keep them at bay to bring a precious three points back to north Essex.
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