John McGreal has called for his Colchester United side to make the most of their “key moments” when they host Grimsby Town this afternoon.

After a four-game winless run, the U’s are looking to get their League Two promotion push back on track against a Mariners side who are without a victory in seven matches and have lost their last four fixtures.

Colchester are looking to avoid suffering three successive league defeats for the first time since November 2016 and head coach McGreal wants them to make the most of the opportunities that come their way.

McGreal said: “I don’t really see it as a wobble – the way I see it is that if we maximise the key moments, then things will change.

“It’s so tight and it’s not like the Premier League or the Championship where teams are pulling themselves away.

“It’s a tough, tough league and it’s fine margins.

“There are some good teams and good players in our division.”

Colchester played out a 2-2 draw with Grimsby in the last meeting between the two sides, last September.

Kyel Reid’s brace secured the U’s a first away point of the season and boss McGreal is looking for all three points today.

He said: “We’re at home and we have to try and get a win for ourselves to push ourselves on and get us to where we want to go.

“We conceded late on at their place and a draw was probably a fair reflection of the game.

“Grimsby have huge experience throughout the team, from Danny Collins, through to Scott Vernon, through to Jamille Matt.

“I’ve got to know Russell (Slade) quite well over the 18 months that I’ve been in charge – he’s given us his words of wisdom and we’ve had a couple of phone calls.

“It’s all about us – they’ve had a little bit of a wobble themselves like every club does.

“We’ve had a couple of defeats but apart from an indifferent second half against Cheltenham, performance-wise it’s been good.”

Tom Lapslie could return to Colchester’s starting line-up after missing the 3-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers due to a tight quad and defender Ryan Inniss is also fit.

But the U’s will assess wing-back Kane Vincent-Young, who missed the Wycombe defeat because of a hamstring strain.