Connor Hall: Cowley brothers can drive team forwards, says Colchester skipper

Connor Hall joined Colchester in January 2023 and has made 27 appearances this season

Colchester United captain Connor Hall believes they will soon put a "string of wins together", thanks to the impact of new boss Danny Cowley.

The U's are unbeaten in four games since Cowley and brother Nicky took charge - although three ended in draws.

They are 21st in League Two, but seven points clear of the relegation places.

Hall played against the Cowleys when they managed non-league Concord Rangers and told BBC Essex: "We go into each game believing we can get points."

The Cowleys were appointed on 4 January, a year on from leaving Portsmouth, and have quickly brought their methods to bear fruit on a previously under-performing squad.

"Nobody expected us to be able to get them. Maybe if they didn't have the connection with Essex, with the Colchester area, we wouldn't have been able to get them," 30-year-old Hall said.

"When I heard the rumours that they could potentially be coming in, I was really excited.

"I've always wanted to play for them and it's a great opportunity now they're in the building - I think they can really take the club forward."

Colchester's only win since the Cowleys were appointed as head coach and assistant was at Morecambe, but they demonstrated their self-belief by coming from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Forest Green last Saturday.

"We feel we're not far off putting a string of wins together," Hall added.

"We probably should have had that already. But the main thing is we're not losing games at the moment, so we're really confident.

"It's really obvious how they want us to play and just the presence both of them bring in training, (and) in the meeting room, gives a real feelgood factor and everyone is driving in the same direction.

"It's the way I want to play football, on the front foot, and I think we've got the players to do that as well."

Cowley told BBC Essex that he and his brother had a lot of respect for Hall.

"Our careers are aligned as we've all had to do it the hard way, Connor starting off at Bury St Edmunds and coming through the divisions," Cowley said.

"There's so much to admire about him, not just as a player but as a person as well."

Colchester are away to Harrogate Town on Saturday before back-to-back home games against Grimsby and Accrington Stanley.