COLCHESTER United interim head coach Hayden Mullins has urged his players not to dwell on the past as they battle to preserve their League Two status.

The U’s head to Oldham Athletic on Friday looking for points to boost their hopes of staying in the Football League.

Colchester have won only one of their last 24 games, a run that has left them hovering above the relegation zone.

But Mullins, who took over first-team duties at the JobServe Community Stadium last week alongside Paul Tisdale who has arrived in an advisory role, has been encouraged by aspects of his side’s performances in the two games he has taken charge of, so far.

And after successive draws against Barrow and Bolton Wanderers, the U’s caretaker boss is not thinking too much about what has gone on before in what has been a tough season for Colchester.

Mullins said: “For us, the start was the Bolton game.

“We’ve changed a bit and we’ve just got to keep building on that.

“If we look back to the 20-odd games (with only one win) - and it is there and we know that – then it will always be a problem.

“So we’ve got to try and start from where we started from, which is the Bolton game.

“If we look back on the two matches, it’s two points gained and that’s what we’ve got to try and build on and take these boys forward.

“We’ll keep building on what we’re doing and we’ll go to Oldham with a plan and a set up and a way to attack that game.

“That’s what we’ve got to try and do and build these boys up and give them the confidence to try and do that.”

Colchester lie five points above the League Two relegation zone with six games remaining and Mullins is looking to keep spirits high, within his squad.

“If you look at the second half of the Bolton game and the first half of the Barrow game it was very good, even the second half we had periods that were good,” said the former West Ham and Crystal Palace defensive midfielder.

“We have to try and remind the boys of that.

“We can’t get too down; if we do get too down, then we’re going to be of no use to anyone so where we are is another point closer to where we want to get to.

“Every point could be crucial come the end of the season and you’d rather have the points than not have them.

“What we have to do is try and get this group into a place where they are confident going into games.

“We’re not going to win every game – we know that.

“Yes, Barrow was a good chance for us to win the game but it wasn’t to be and we move on again to Oldham, which is another game that we’re going to look at.”