Colchester United head coach John McGreal wants more of his players to chip in with goals after they played out a second successive goal-less draw this afternoon.

The U’s remain three points off the League Two automatic promotion places after drawing 0-0 with Cambridge United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester’s leading scorers Sammie Szmodics and Mikael Mandron were kept quiet by a solid Cambridge defence.

But the likes of Drey Wright, Kurtis Guthrie and Ryan Jackson all came close to bagging a winner for the hosts - and boss McGreal has called on others to contribute in the scoring stakes.

McGreal said: “We clearly had the better of the chances but the disappointing thing for me was that we came in with a zero again, given the opportunities that we’ve had.

“We just need that clinical finish up front and we are still creating the opportunities – it’s not as if we’re not doing that.

“We just need other players other than Sammie Szmodics and Mika Mandron to score goals.

“I can’t think of too many chances that Sammie had today – it fell to other players and that’s when you’re looking for the other players to step up and put their name in lights.

“It’s a team effort and we need goalscorers from all over the pitch.

“I was a little bit disappointed with the overall performance.

“I was pleased as you don’t like to lose these types of game as it was midway through the second half but in terms of chances, I thought we edged it.

“I knew that they would come at us which they did and I think we defended well.

“Even late on, the likes of Kurtis Guthrie and Tom Eastman had good opportunities to score and I can’t remember too many for them.

“They’ve huffed and puffed around and had blocked shots and I think Sam Walker might have had one save but I can’t remember them having as many clearcut chances as we had."

Colchester are six games unbeaten in League Two and have now conceded only one goal in their last four matches, over the festive programme.

McGreal added: “It’s been a tough run of fixtures for our young team in a short space of time and it’s pleasing to come away unbeaten and with three clean sheets over the festive period.”