Joe Dunne will this week prepare his Colchester United players for what will be their biggest game of the season.

Ask any professional footballer about the proverbial six-pointer and they are more than likely to reply by saying that “the next game is always the biggest” or “every game is important, especially at this stage of the season”.

That’s fair enough but few can doubt the magnitude of the U’s home clash with Scunthorpe United, given the clubs’ respective precarious positions in the League One table.

Just one points separates the two struggling sides, as they head into their do-or-die fixture at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

But while Colchester will do so on the back of eight successive defeats, they can also be buoyed by the manner of their impressive performance at Doncaster Rovers.

Admittedly, the result went against them but there are often fine lines between winning and losing, as proved in South Yorkshire last weekend.

The U’s had every right to feel aggrieved that they did not claim at least a point against the joint League One leaders, such was the quality of their performance.

Logically, a similar display against lowly Scunthorpe should merit a much-needed victory for Colchester.

But reason is not always applicable in football and the U’s would welcome three points this weekend, however it comes.

By this weekend, the U’s may well have a new defender and goalkeeper in their squad.

However, it is the other end of the field that has been causing concern of late.

One goal in their last six matches is a measly return for a U’s side who have proved they can create chances.

Dominic Samuel, the 30th player to have represented Colchester this season, showed enough on his debut to suggest that he can be a useful acquisition for the U’s.

But it is vital that the U’s find some goals - whether them come from Samuel or elsewhere.

If they can do that, there is no reason why come the end of April, we may be looking back at their encouraging showing at the Keepmoat Stadium as a major turning point in their turbulent season.