SOL Campbell believes Colchester United are a 'fantastic' team after seeing his Macclesfield Town side play out a 1-1 draw with the promotion-chasing U's.

Frank Nouble's penalty just after half-time secured John McGreal's side a draw in the League Two encounter at the Moss Rose, after Scott Wilson had given the struggling Silkmen the lead just before the interval.

Campbell said: “They’re a good team – if you give them space, they’re going to utilise it.

“It was definitely two points dropped for us but Colchester are a fantastic team, they’re a really, really good side.

“They’re riding high but we had opportunities to win and we didn’t take them.

“Colchester are well drilled and have some excellent individuals, as well especially going forward.

“They will give anyone trouble for sure, especially the form they’re in.

“If you give their front lads space, that’s what happens – if you don’t do that, you’ve got a chance.

“We have to realise that when you’re playing against special players like that, you just can’t switch off and we switched off."

Campbell was left to rue a slow start to the second half after his lowly Macclesfield side had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Silkmen were the better side in the first period and went in at the break ahead, thanks to Wilson’s strike.

However, Colchester struck back in the second that immediately followed the break through Nouble’s penalty, to secure the promotion-chasing visitors a point.

“I think it was a game of two halves," said the former Arsenal and England defender.

“We played really, really well in the first half.

“Colchester are a very fluid and mobile team but we restricted them to very few open play scenarios.

"You can’t really allow them to get their play going and pass from the back as that’s where they really start to get their players into the game.

“We got the goal and could have extended it but in the second half, we were slow starters again which is not really what I’m looking for, as a team.

“You have to be really up for it and the second half was too slow.

“We gave away another penalty, which we’ve got to look at.”