Colchester United head coach John McGreal admitted he felt an element of relief after their 1-0 win over Northampton Town sealed their first league victory of the season this afternoon.

Luke Norris's second-half penalty - his fourth goal of the season - was enough to secure the U's all three points at the JobServe Community Stadium and end a four-game winless run at the start of the new League Two campaign.

Colchester recovered well from the disappointment of surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Grimsby Town in midweek, to chalk up a morale-boosting win.

McGreal said: "There was obviously an element of relief, after what happened the other night (at Grimsby) when you're totally in control and you give the game away.

"When you look at Grimsby's result today (they beat Port Vale 5-2), we were in total control and we let them off it.

"You could see today that there was a bit of determination and we sunk in.

"When teams are going that direct like Grimsby, it's very hard to get out because if it's not their centre-halves it's their goalkeeper and if it's not that, it's the throw-in coming in from the halfway line.

"It was a bit backs to the wall and at times, we were a bit wasteful on the counter where we're normally good, getting that pass away in the second half.

"But that's picking and as a team, you have to defend.

"Northampton are a big club in our division and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.

“In our games of late, we haven’t been able to get the rub of the green.

“I thought that we had that but I thought we earned it.

“Their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves and their defenders have made some brilliant blocks.

“Their defenders were putting their heads and chests on it.

“Nos (Luke Norris) is in good form at the minute and he gives himself a good chance to score from the penalty spot.

“We built it around the edge of the box and Ben (Stevenson) showed good feet as he did the other week when he got a penalty."

Luke Gambin made a significant impact off the bench after coming on for Jevani Brown, playing his part in the penalty that led to Norris's winner and also testing Northampton keeper David Cornell on more than one occasion.

“Gams (Luke Gambin) has been really effective from the bench," added McGreal.

“We just felt that ten minutes into the second half that we could win the game.

“That’s the idea of bringing Gams on to try and force the issue and he definitely did that.

“It’s a really hot day and we didn’t get back from Grimsby until silly o’clock on Wednesday morning – some of the boys didn’t get into their beds until 3.30am.

“Then we’re back in again on a hot day and you want to try and change it but we just felt with an injection with Gams (Luke Gambin) with the way he’s been, he’s been really effective from the bench.

“We just felt that ten minutes into the second half that we could win the game and that’s the idea of bringing Gams on to try and force the issue and he definitely did that.