Colchester United defender Luke Chambers on improved form

The U’s have lost only one of their last seven matches in all competitions, having prior to that picked up a single win in their previous six fixtures.

Chambers’ brace helped Colchester book their place in the Papa John’s Trophy Southern Area quarter-finals with a 2-1 triumph over Swindon Town, on Tuesday night.

And with a FA Cup home tie against League One high-fliers Wigan Athletic to look forward to this weekend, the experienced defender says it feels like the U’s are on an upward curve.

Chambers said: “I do think we’ve turned a little bit of a corner in terms of our level of performance.

“Our form has been a lot better; we’ve found a way of playing to our strengths.

“We had a lot of lads who picked up injuries from pre-season, lads missing with Covid; for one reason or another we haven’t had a strong squad where everyone’s been match fit to play but I think you’re seeing that now.

“I think Luke Hannant has come in over the last few games against Newport and Exeter and done fantastically well.

“He stepped out of the team (against Swindon) but the boys that came in have done tremendously well again.

“It’s brilliant for the gaffer now that he’s got those players available to make decisions that he sees fit in which games.

“I don’t think we have the luxury of having a big squad to make wholesale changes.

“We’ve got a lot of good young players at the club but we want to continue the momentum we seem to be building the last few weeks.

“We’re delighted with the way that things have turned around a little bit for us but there’s a long way to go.”

Chambers’ two goals against Swindon were his first since joining Colchester from neighbours Ipswich Town, in the summer.

The 36-year-old centre-back netted twice in the opening 11 minutes at the County Ground, to help his side to victory.

Chambers said: “I could have had three but Searsy got in the way of the last one!

“I could have three but I’ll take two and we got the win, so I’m delighted.

“I have scored two before, when I was at Nottingham Forest.

“I was trying to get on a free-kick on the edge of the box for my hat-trick but Kris Boyd and Robert Earnshaw were there as well!

“I’ve had a few chances and I think perhaps I could have scored a few before that, this season.

“If you keep making the runs in the right areas and you’ve got boys who have been delivering those kind of set-pieces, I think we’ve looked a lot more dangerous of late.

“You just have to get yourself in the right position, close your eyes and hope it goes in.

Team work - Colchester United defender Luke Chambers celebrates with his team-mates after scoring against Swindon Town Picture: ROB NOYES

“(Assistant head coach) Al Dyer takes all of those and sets us up and we know what the signals are.

“I think we should have scored more and made more problems for opposition this season.

“We haven’t managed to do that but hopefully (after the Swindon), it can start that and kick us on to more opportunities to score more goals from set-pieces because we’ve certainly got the delivery and the players to cause teams problems.”

Colchester are now awaiting the Papa John’s Trophy last 16 draw, which takes place on Saturday afternoon.

Chambers said: “We got into the next round and that’s what we came to do, so we’re delighted.

“We took the game seriously; they made a lot of changes and had a lot of young players on the bench.

“That was their prerogative but we set off from minute one and I think we caused them problems, especially all through the first half.

“It was disappointing to concede the goal before half-time.

“It’s always difficult when you go 2-0 up and you do concede; it’s going to be a nervy finish but I think we dealt with most threats they had especially in the second half.

“We managed the game well in difficult conditions.”