Colchester United head coach John McGreal praised his side's "terrific away performance" after they ran out 2-1 winners at in-form Newport County tonight.

Two goals in the space of four minutes from former Exiles defender Ryan Jackson and Mikael Mandron put the U's on their way, at Rodney Parade.

And although Newport substitute Shawn McCoulsky pulled a goal back for the hosts with four minutes remaining, it was not enough to prevent Colchester from securing a third league win in four matches and move up to 14th in the League Two table.

McGreal said: "I'm sure clubs up and down our league wouldn't have fancied us tonight but we do have a bit of resilience.

"It was a terrific away performance against a team that could have gone top three tonight.

"We've just highlighted big Sam (Walker).

"Straight after half-time he made a great save when their player went straight through and then we had a bit of fortune when they've hit the post.

"But I just felt we grew in the game, even in the first half and I felt we were getting into the game when it settled down.

"The crowd went a little bit quiet and then we got our two goals - the second one was great for us, coming so early after the first one and we caught them a little bit cold.

"They changed the shape and literally threw four or five forward and it was incessant.

"Newport are a tough, strong team to play against and we held out.

"We felt we could have done it with the clean sheet but it was great to get the win."