Dunne Looking For Performances

With the U's heading into a run of tough-looking fixtures in the coming weeks, U's boss Joe Dunne insists that it is performances that are going to prove crucial.

Tomorrow sees the U's face a trip to Yorkshire to take on promotion-chasing Sheffield United, whilst that's followed by home games against Tranmere and Yeovil, who are both threatening in their own right.

Tranmere, of course, have been top of the league for the majority of the season, whilst Gary Johnson's Yeovil are currently on a run of seven straight victories in the league that has taken the Glovers up to play-off contention.

Those fixtures take the U's into March and the season's final straight, but Dunne believes that the confidence his side have comes from performances as well as results.

Having won three of their last four fixtures, belief is high in the U's camp and, speaking to BBC Essex, the Irishman reiterated those positive performances.

'We have a run coming up against high-flying sides,' he said. 'But our confidence is good, our game plans are good and the attitude is high. Wins help that, but performances have been good and we want another performance on Saturday.

'We want points, but performances will be key; we lost to Swindon but our performance meant that we still had the momentum and we want that going into the game against Tranmere next weekend.'

January saw a mini-overhaul of the U's playing squad as Joe Dunne finally took the chance to stamp his mark on the squad, with a number of young, Premier League loanees switching to north Essex for temporary spells.

This was coupled with the addition of players like Jack Compton, and the pace that the U's have been attacking with since is something Dunne has planned.

'The kind of players we have exude confidence and they can play exhibition stuff; they have the ability to play, they're quick and we added a bit of experience too, which helps.

'When you're playing with that confidence they can bring enough to any team. I think swagger is a good word, but they have to be able to back that up on the pitch.'

With three wins in four and some potent attacking form, back it up is certainly what the U's seem to be doing at the moment. However, nobody is under any illusions how difficult the upcoming run of games is.

Despite going top of the league over Christmas, tomorrow's hosts have slipped away down the table before two back-to-back away wins in the past week has seen them restore some form.

Dunne believes it is a challenge that the players should relish.

He finished: 'Sheffield United will want to get out of this league; the fans are expecting it and Danny [Wilson] has managed the club well and they'll be in the mix again.

'They have good players and it will be hard, but we should embrace the chance to challenge ourselves at a fantastic stadium and we're looking forward to it.'


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