Can Colchester United achieve the unlikely and secure a League Two play-off place, this season?

It is still a long shot but, after chalking up three successive wins, it is not as tall an order as it seemed only a fortnight or so ago.

There is usually one team in any division that finds momentum just at the right time and launches a late assault at clinching a play-off spot.

And although it is still looking unlikely, especially given the calibre of opposition that John McGreal’s side still have to play, they have certainly given themselves a fighting chance.

After the demoralising 1-0 home defeats at the hands of lowly Barnet and Yeovil Town last month, any talk of Colchester extending their campaign longer than the standard of 46 games would probably have seemed pretty outlandish.

But the U’s are now playing with confidence and swagger.

Not only are they continuing to look solid at the back they are also showing some impressive attacking flair, as witnessed in their thoroughly-deserved 2-1 triumph at Forest Green Rovers yesterday.

Their last four performances bear the hallmarks of a side who are giving it everything.

And one of the most pleasing things about recent games is that when boss McGreal has had to change things, players have slotted in seamlessly.

At Forest Green yesterday, the U’s head coach was forced to change a winning side, not ideal after you’ve just beaten a team in Luton Town who look on course for promotion.

But the players who came into the side - Courtney Senior and in particular the outstanding Brandon Comley - stepped in superbly and were able to help Colchester maintain the momentum they had built from the Hatters result.

Now the challenge, for the second successive home game, will be to beat the league leaders.

Accrington Stanley are in superb form but so are the U’s and it should be a cracking encounter at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, this weekend.

Colchester have nothing to lose and after securing three straight wins for the first time since 2016, who would now back against them getting another victory and maintaining their fine form?