Colchester United’s last five matches have all ended up 1-0.

It's a scoreline that has fallen in the U’s favour in each of their last two League Two games but an outcome that went against them at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, albeit after a spirited performance against their League One hosts.

So what does that tell us about John McGreal’s side, at present?

Primarily, that they have been involved in some close games where they have been defensively sound but also, not quite as prolific as they were in the opening few months of the season.

A return of three goals in five matches, albeit against some strong opposition, is perhaps a reflection of Colchester not taking their goalscoring opportunities quite as much as they were a few weeks ago.

It was always going to be difficult for the U’s to maintain their outstanding scoring record consistently, throughout the course of the season.

Equally, it’s only natural for opposition teams to now be aware of their threat – and set up against them accordingly.

Colchester have been prolific in front of goal so far and there is no doubting their potency, with the likes of Luke Norris, Sammie Szmodics and Frank Nouble in their side.

The fact that the number of different goalscorers they have had is already in double figures is a reflection of the fact that they have players who are capable of scoring all over the field.

With 31 goals to their name, Colchester are the second-highest goalscorers in League Two behind league leaders Lincoln City and boast one of the best scoring records in the whole of the top four divisions.

However, boss McGreal admitted himself after the Accrington defeat that his side did not take their chances, particularly in the opening 25 minutes of the first-round tie.

And that followed on from the narrow win over Swindon Town seven days earlier, where their margin of victory might have been greater.

“If I was critical, I thought we were a bit wasteful in the second half,” said McGreal, after the Swindon win.

“I thought we got into good areas and didn’t make the most of it.”

That has been a little frustrating for the U’s boss - but the good thing is that those chances are still being created.

And Colchester have been without their leading scorer Norris for a game and a half, due to his ankle injury.

Of course, it would be pleasing if the U’s returned to their prolific scoring form in the Checkatrade Trophy tomorrow night against a Cambridge United side they stuck three goals past in a League Two match, only a couple of months ago.