Danny Cowley: New Colchester boss happy with team's fight and togetherness

Danny Cowley replaced Matthew Etherington, who was sacked on 1 January

New Colchester boss Danny Cowley has promised his team will continue to "go to the end" after a stoppage-time goal earned them a point at Swindon.

The U's fought back from 2-0 down in Cowley's first game in charge to rescue a point in the League Two encounter.

It ended a run of three successive defeats and although still 22nd, they are six points clear of the bottom two.

"My teams never give up, we fight all the way. I liked what I saw," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport.

"Was it perfect, technically and tactically? No. But did I see enough determination and resilience, fight and togetherness? Yes, and that's something for us to work with.

"They're the bits it's hard to give people, the technical and tactical bit, that can be ironed out on the training pitch."

Cowley and brother Nicky, his assistant, were appointed on Thursday after agreeing two-and-half-year deals and only had two days to work with the players before the game at Swindon.

"First half, the boys played with an energy and intensity, we just conceded a really soft penalty. That knocked us and then the second goal, we have to defend the frame of our goal better than that and we will improve in that area for sure," the 45-year-old said.

"After the second goal, you have a decision - you either become the victim or the fighter in that moment. You either go under or you stand up and you're counted. Credit to the players because they showed a huge amount of determination, a real resilience and a lot of fight.

"We get the (first) goal just before half-time, that gave us an energy and a momentum and in the second half I felt we played better with the ball. We want to press really aggressively and to do that you need to be able to look after the ball and keep the ball, so you can keep your fuel."

Colchester are at home to Bradford City on Saturday, followed by trips to Salford City and Morecambe.

"It's only a point, I'm not getting too excited, but it feels like more than a point and gives us something to build on," Cowley added.

The former Lincoln, Huddersfield and Portsmouth boss was shown a yellow care for his celebration after Bradley Ihionvien's last-gasp goal.

"I don't think you're allowed to show any personality or any emotion now in football," he added. "Who would think anyone would want to celebrate a 94th minute equaliser?"