RYAN Jackson insists Colchester United’s players must take collective responsibility for their recent results.

The U’s have struggled at both ends of the pitch over recent games, losing five of their last six matches in League Two.

Goals have been at a premium for John McGreal’s side, with Colchester having scored just once since beating Newport County 3-0 on March 9.

Their only goal in the last six matches came from full-back Kane Vincent-Young who netted their winner at Cambridge United.

Colchester drew another blank last weekend when they were beaten 2-0 at Bury, a defeat that left them five points adrift of the play-off places with four games remaining.

But ahead of their home clash with Grimsby Town on Good Friday, right-back Jackson said: “It works hand in hand – we keep the ball out of the net and the strikers try and score but we all take responsibility as a team, whether we win or lose.

“You’re going to go through times like that where you’re not scoring but we have to keep grinding out results and clean sheets.

“We’ve got good players and we know that we’re a good team.

“It’s just all about trying to replicate that on a Saturday.

“We can’t keep looking back – we have to keep looking forward and try to do better in the next game.

“We try not to worry about other teams but rather, worry about ourselves.

“We have good team spirit and we’re all working hard in the right direction to try and you win and lose as a team.

“We’ll learn from last week and go again this week.”

Meanwhile, Colchester boss John McGreal admits his players are looking anxious following their disappointing run of form.

McGreal says it is his job to support his young side, in the midst of a difficult spell.

McGreal said: “It’s not an anxiousness in terms of being scared; it’s an anxiousness in terms of wanting to do well knowing that it’s getting close to the end of the season.

“It’s one where we’re hoping we can stay calm and get back to that level at the start of the season in both boxes.

“There’s an anxiousness of trying to do well on the pitch and that’s a good thing to have.

“But making mistakes and not scoring is just costly at the minute. Goals change games.

“They’re a young team and sometimes, they’re going to make the wrong decisions.

“You just have to forget about it and move on to the next. We have to keep going to make that chance again, to get on the ball again, to clear the line again.

“It’s my job to build those players up, to continue to play and not dwell under a little bit of pressure from the crowd.”