MILES Welch-Hayes has urged Colchester United to show their fighting qualities – and put an end to their miserable winless run.

The U’s have gone 12 games without a victory and having dropped to 20th spot in League Two, are in desperate need of a win.

Colchester host promotion-chasing Exeter City tomorrow night and right-back Welch-Hayes admits now is the time for them to show their fight and put an end to their dismal form.

He said: “We need to keep fighting and put things right.

“We’re all in it together – everyone in the changing room was hurting afterwards and we’re the only ones that can put it right.

“We’re staying positive.

“Everyone knows that it’s 12 games now without a win but you can’t dwell to much – you just need to put things right.

“There’s been enough talking and we need to be putting performances in and start to get back to winning ways because that will get us back on track.

“When you lose a game, it’s good to have a game on the Tuesday to put things right for the fans and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Colchester’s winless run was extended at the weekend when they were beaten 1-0 at Crawley Town.

It had looked as though the U’s were heading for a draw at the People’s Pension Stadium, before Reds substitute James Tilley stuck home a dramatic winner for the hosts in the third minute of stoppage time.

“It hurts at any time when you concede and don’t get the three points but especially when you concede in the last minute,” said Welch-Hayes, who has started 24 times for the U’s in League Two, this season.

“Everyone’s gutted that we conceded in the last minute or two but we need to step it up and get back to winning ways, because it’s not good enough at the minute.

“We need to be going to places like (Crawley) and getting a win or at least a point.

“The pitch was very bobbly - it was more of a game with the ball in the air and with a lot of headers but it’s not an excuse.”