Colchester boss Danny Cowley paid tribute to his relegation-threatened side’s “gritty, determined and resilient” 1-1 draw away to League Two leaders Mansfield.
Harry Anderson gave Colchester a 13th-minute lead with a well-struck low shot from the right of the box that went inside the far post in a frustrating first half for the Stags.
But, after U’s goalkeeper Owen Goodman had made a wonder save after 62 minutes to somehow keep out Baily Cargill’s close-range header, he was beaten a minute later from the resulting corner as a scramble ended with Lewis Brunt poking home.
It was a sixth draw in eight winless games as the visitors remain just one place above the drop zone ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.
“They are the best team in the division – there is a lot to respect in Mansfield,” Cowley said.
“So to come here and put on the performance that we did, I think we have a lot to be proud of and, ultimately, we’re disappointed not to have won the game.
“I know the home fans were getting a bit frustrated, I am not sure if they were getting frustrated with us or with their own team.
“I am not sure if people expected us to just turn up here and lie down and let them run all over us.
“But that won’t happen on my watch – over my dead body. We want to be winners. We were gritty, determined, resilient and also streetwise.
“We showed all the qualities I like in one of my team’s performances and I was proud of our efforts.
“We’re not about to give up our League status easily – we now have nine games left and we will give it absolutely everything we’ve got.”
Goodman tipped over a Will Swan header before home goalkeeper Christy Pym had to make a vital save to turn a low Samson Tovide shot onto a post as United broke well and he also turned over a dipping Ellis Iandolo header near the end.
“In the end we’re satisfied with a point with the way the game went and the conditions,” said Mansfield boss Nigel Clough.
“It was one of those games that, having given a soft goal away early on, we could have easily lost that 1-0.
“Even at the end we could have lost 2-1 with the corners and set plays they had.
“The result keeps our little run going. We haven’t had enough draws of late, those defeats should’ve been draws.
“So we go to Wrexham next week in better heart than we would’ve done had we lost the game.
“We’re still top of the league, let the others battle it out this afternoon and it could be a very valuable point come the end of the season.
“We did not start the game anyway near as well as we would have liked and we gave Colchester too much encouragement and a goal as well.
“We had enough situations and chances today but couldn’t quite get more than the equaliser.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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