FRANKIE Kent says Colchester United’s strong self-belief is providing the platform for their promotion challenge.

The U’s lie just a point off the automatic promotion places in League Two, following their impressive 1-0 win over Lincoln City on Saturday.

Colchester bounced back from their defeat at Grimsby Town to see off the Imps, thanks to Kent’s first-half winner.

John McGreal’s side have followed up each of their four league losses this season with a win and defender Kent says that is down to the confidence within the squad.

Kent said: “We haven’t lost two in a row which is very good for morale.

“We’ve gone into games knowing that we can’t lose.

“I think it’s down to self-belief – we were disappointed with the Grimsby result but we know we could have got something.

“We knew that if we were all on it and prepped right, we could do well.”

Colchester are now just five points off top spot in League Two – but defender Kent insists they are taking it one step at a time.

“It’s a big win (against Lincoln) but we’ll take it game by game,” said the 22-year-old.

“We won’t get too excited and we know we have a job to do (against Swindon) on Saturday.

“Lincoln is just another team in the division - that’s how I look at it and most of the boys.

“It’s another win chalked off and we’ll go again next week.

“The plan is to stay up there all season but we’ll take it game by game.

“It was a game that we could show to the league that we can compete, coming off the disappointment of the Grimsby game.

“We know what they’re about – they’re a big strong team and they’ve got big boys up front.

“We knew what we were doing and defensively as a whole team, I thought we were brilliant.

“I take a lot of pride in the clean sheet – we had one last Saturday (against Morecambe) too and we know how good we can be as a team defensively.

“Rene (Gilmartin) didn’t really have a save until right at the end and I think that just shows how well we did as a team, to stop them advancing on us.

“Rene’s been brilliant since he’s come in – Dillon (Barnes) did well before that but Rene typified it at the end with his save.”

Kent admits his winning strike for Colchester against Lincoln was an ‘instinctive finish’ after it paved the way for a big three points.

The cultured centre-back lifted a shot into the roof of the net from close range after his initial effort had been blocked by keeper Josh Vickers, to secure the U’s an impressive victory.

“The boys put in a good performance to get a strong three points, against a strong team,” added Kent, who has now scored three times, this season.

“I thought everybody played well and I’m really happy to have scored again.

“It was quite instinctive really – I just saw it drop and I thought I had to lift it because he (goalkeeper Josh Vickers) was on the deck.

“I thought the first one was going in but it’s just dropped and I’ve just stepped onto it.

“The goal gave us that extra belief of what we’re trying to do and trying to win the game.

“It helped to settle everyone down and we started playing.

“They came out in the second half but the boys dealt with it really well.”