Colchester United stalwart George Elokobi says their mental strength was a big factor in helping them overcome adversity to beat Barnet.

The U’s suffered two central defensive injuries in the opening 17 minutes when both Frankie Kent and Lloyd Doyley were forced out of the action.

But Alex Wynter and Matt Briggs both impressed as their replacements, helping Colchester claim an important 2-1 victory that left them within two points of the League Two play-off places.

Elokobi, who was outstanding for the U’s, said their character saw them through.

He said: “This group is strong mentally, which is credit to this squad.

“Everyone works extremely hard in training fighting for a starting place in the team and with adversity and injuries comes another person’s chance to come in and stake a claim.

“Frankie has been fantastic since he came into the team and to lose him in that manner was a shame for us.

“But it’s testament to the lads who came into replace them – Alex Wynter and Matthew Briggs – who did fantastic and it shows the strength in depth we had going into the last stage of the season.

“We have to make sure that everyone is well looked after.”

Elokobi has impressed in a left-sided central defensive role over recent months, having started each of their last 12 matches since returning to their starting line-up.

But the former Wolves favourite switched to a central role against Barnet following Colchester’s injury disruption and says he thrived on the responsibility.

“I’m one of the more experienced guys around the place,” said Elokobi “We lost two players and the gaffer played me in a more central role, so it was easier for me to pass on information to the younger boys.

“It was about us not dropping too deep and making sure we were nice and compact and that we didn’t take things for granted.

“I enjoy that role and the responsibility and that’s part and parcel of the job I do.

“I work extremely hard in training and look after my body and touch wood, I haven’t picked up any niggles.

“When the chance has come, I believe I’ve taken it and going forward, I hope I can help this football club achieve our goal.

“It’s been a good run so far and it’s 21 games in a row, playing nine games for Braintree and 12 games for us so it’s been a while.

“I feel extremely good in myself going into the last 17 games of the season.”

Colchester can move back into the League Two play-off places with victory over Crawley Town, tomorrow night.

The U’s currently lie two points off the top seven, as they attempt to close in on promotion at the first time of asking.

Elokobi added: “If we beat Crawley, we know we can be in and around where we want to be in the play-off places.

“We take one game at a time and respect Crawley and make sure we do exactly what we did against Barnet if not more, as it won’t be an easy game.

“You never feel that fresh playing Saturday-Tuesday but we did that over the festive period and we’ll try and do it again.”