BRENDAN Wiredu admits Colchester United must respond strongly to the setback of surrendering their unbeaten League Two run.

The U's lost for the first time in five league matches when they were beaten 2-1 at Crawley Town, last weekend.

The result has left Colchester two points adrift of the play-off places, heading into this weekend's home clash with struggling Morecambe.

U's midfielder Wiredu, who is on loan from Championship club Charlton Athletic, says they must bounce back positively and get back to winning ways.

Wiredu said: "It's all about how we respond now.

"We'll work hard during the week and work on the mistakes that we made in the second half.

"The best way to rectify this (Crawley defeat) is to get three points against Morecambe.

"We're a good team - we have a great bunch of lads and we can control a game.

"I personally think we can push for promotion and I haven't been here long.

"Teams that push for promotion get setbacks and it's how you come back from them.

"If you come back stronger, you can go higher in the table.

"I don't know how the (Crawley) game changed like it did but I guess we've got to move on to Saturday now and put it behind us.

"We've been on a good run of form and we didn't want this run to end - we wanted it to go on the whole season.

"That was going to end eventually and we're all realistic but we'd hoped it wouldn't end in the way it did (at Crawley).

"But we move on to this weekend and we have a whole week to work on things now, ahead of Saturday."

Wiredu started in a central midfield role for Colchester at Crawley, having played in a right-back role in their Leasing.com Trophy game against Spurs last week.

It was the 19-year-old's sixth league appearance for the U's since joining them on loan from Charlton in August and he says he is enjoying his time at the JobServe Community Stadium.

"I enjoy playing for the gaffer and for the team," said Wiredu.

"They've all made me feel welcome since I joined.

"I'm just happy that the gaffer has put trust in me to play.

"I'm only young at the end of the day but he's put his faith in me to play and I'm grateful for that, as I am the lads for putting their trust in me too.

"It's an opportunity for me to showcase my ability.

"I like the midfield role - I feel I can get on the ball more and do more things there.

"But if the gaffer wants me to play at right-back, I'd gladly play there as well."

Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken has scooped the Carabao Cup Player of the Round award following his fine performance against Spurs, in round three.

Gerken was in impressive form in the U's victory over their Premier League opponents and saved Christian Eriksen's opening spot-kick in the shoot-out, which paved the way for Colchester's memorable win.

Colchester are in Essex Senior Cup third round action tonight.

The U's will take a young side to play Karl Duguid's Heybridge Swifts team at Scraley Road, kick-off 7.45pm.