Colchester pair Danny Cowley and Jack Tucker spoke ahead of the U’s visit to Stadium MK

Colchester United manager Danny Cowley felt he saw MK Dons put in the best performance of the season last week when he saw them dismantle Gillingham at Priestfield.

Dons’ emphatic 5-1 win in Kent was the second of three wins in a row, sandwiched by results over Harrogate Town and Swindon Town to cement Paul Warne’s side in second place in League Two.

The U’s head to Stadium MK this evening (Wednesday) ahead of a big week for the Essex side, with a trip to leaders Bromley looming for them on Saturday.

Having drawn 0-0 with Crawley Town last Friday, Cowley believes, having seen Dons put Gillingham to the sword, his side will have their work cut out for them at MK1.

“Against Gillingham last week, that was the best League Two performance I’ve seen from any team this season,” he said. “They are big, strong, athletic in the areas they need to be and have real technical qualities in midfield as well.

“They can really mix the game up: they can play quick, direct and purposefully, but they also have players that can get control and find a good rhythm. They’re well financed, and have such depth so it’s no surprise they’re on the run they’re on.

“MK is always a lovely ground to go to, the best in the division, and we’re really excited to go there and to find a way against a really good team.”

Colchester sit 13th heading into the game, six points shy of the play-off spots with ten games still to play. Former MK Dons defender Jack Tucker, regular at the JobServe Community Stadium since his summer move, said he and his team-mates are eyeing a late run to see if they can breach the top seven.

He said: “We’re at the business end of the season, there is a lot riding on it. What you can achieve is so exciting, so we’ll have to give it everything in the last ten games and have no regrets when we get to May. We’re in touching distance, everything is still to play for.”

The sides have met twice already this season, once in the FA Cup and once in the league. Dons emerged victorious in the first meeting before a last minute Jack Payne penalty secured the points for the U’s on New Year’s Day.

Warne’s side have not lost since that day, but Tucker believes if Colchester can be at their best at his old stomping ground, they can do the double over his former club.

He added: “We beat MK at home, so we’ve shown we can do it, it’s just about consistently putting the performances in to get a run of results. We feel we’re better than just one-off results.

“It will be tough but we’ve got a plan and if we can put in a performance we know we can do, I’m sure it will be good enough to get a result.”