It did not take long after Colchester United’s defeat against Sheffield United on Saturday evening for Kevin Keen to shift his focus to their crunch clash with Fleetwood Town.

The U’s boss delayed his post-match media duties in order to politely ask the Blades’ players to refrain from warming down in the middle of the Weston Homes Community Stadium pitch which will again take centre stage tonight, when the latest instalment of the club’s survival battle unfolds.

Keen was still smarting from the blow of seeing his Colchester side concede a late goal to lose a game they so very nearly won, having produced an impressive second-half display.

He was reluctant to talk publically about what he said to his players at half-time, following a rather flat first-half display.

But whatever was said in the changing room certainly made a difference and the U’s will seemingly have to produce a similar showing throughout the whole of their clash with the Cod Army, if they are to register a precious victory.

There has undoubtedly been improvement under Keen in a short space of time; Colchester’s performances under their new manager have offered plenty of encouragement.

But unfortunately, that progression has not been reflected in results and the stark reality of the situation is after just one victory in 16 league games, the U’s must start winning – and soon.

Success against Fleetwood would lift Colchester to within a win of safety and drag their opponents into the mire.

But defeat would leave the U’s eight points adrift of safety, with 19 games remaining.

Keen is confident the U’s will survive but he admitted that they will need to produce the kind of form more typically seen from a play-off chasing side if they are to achieve their objective.

He reckons they need another 30 points – ten wins - between now and the end of the season to stay up.

What better way to get themselves on the way to achieving that objective than by defeating one of their fellow strugglers this evening?