One of the most impressive elements of Colchester United's fine unbeaten run is that they are showing that they are now flexible enough to match any side in League Two.

On paper, their draw with Newport County might suggest that little has changed for either side since their last meeting, three months earlier.

After all, that earlier encounter also ended in a dour draw, with little in the way of entertainment or creativity.

But to say that the U’s have not made progress since that 0-0 stalemate could not be further from the truth.

It might sound strange given the fact that Colchester's points return from last weekend’s clash at Rodney Parade was exactly the same as that of earlier in the season.

But John McGreal’s team have come a very long way since hosting the Exiles, last October.

Back then, Colchester were in the midst of a ten-match winless run and slipping down the table fast.

Being held at home by Newport was seen a huge disappointment for players, management and staff alike; it was a worrying time.

Fast forward a few months and Colchester are a confident team chasing promotion, residing in the play-off places and now nine matches unbeaten, having taken 23 points from a possible 27.

As McGreal said after the 1-1 draw, it was very much a case of one point gained rather than two dropped.

Of course, the U’s boss will naturally be disappointed his side did not find a way of beating a struggling Newport side, who had lost their previous eight matches.

But he will know that realistically, his team will not win every game they play between now and the end of the season and that any points gained on their travels could prove to be very precious indeed.

And while both sides had to play on a surface not conducive to good football, the conditions were far more suited to the hosts’ approach than the U’s.

Any team with genuine hopes of winning promotion must demonstrate that they can adapt to the unique elements of any game on a consistent basis, as the U’s have been doing.

A trip to fellow in-form side Exeter City this weekend will provide a different kind of test but Colchester’s progress over recent weeks suggests that they will be up to the task.