LEE Evans is hoping City can start putting the building blocks back in place at Colchester tonight.

Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Peterborough brought the recent unbeaten run to a jarring end – made worse by the long-term loss of Paul Anderson.

But after picking up nine points from the previous five games, Welsh midfielder Evans wants to launch another run.

"We've got to take the league in small blocks – that's how I have always looked at it and I'm sure the manager is the same," he said.

"We had a sticky start but that can happen. But we then went five unbeaten with a couple of good wins in there.

"Now we've got to focus on the next block, especially at the moment where we're playing Saturdays and Tuesdays.

"The games are coming up thick and fast again so there's no point in looking towards Christmas time. You want to work towards the end of the month and see where you are then.

"Colchester had a great result the other week against Sheffield United, so we know they will be full of confidence, but we've got to put our own performances right."

Evans was spared any post-match criticism after the Posh setback and Phil Parkinson felt his free-kick delivery deserved a better response from the rest of the team.

The 21-year-old Wolves loanee has hit his stride since returning from recent international duty to keep Billy Knott on the sidelines.

Evans admits he is enjoying his personal duel for the engine-room role alongside Gary Liddle.

He said: "You can't get complacent, especially with the quality Billy has got. It keeps us both on our toes.

"Obviously we both want to play football but you know you've got to do well week in, week out to keep the other one out.

"Fair play to Billy, he played well against Oldham when I was away on international duty. I'd done quite well for Wales but he'd played well for Bradford, so I couldn't complain when he kept the shirt.

"As soon as I got the nod for Sheffield United, I knew it was a big game for me and thankfully I did quite well. You want to be challenged like that.

"It should never be the case that someone says you've got to play because you're on loan. You should be in the team on merit because you're doing this or that right."

City's trip to the in-form U's is their first Tuesday night fixture for six weeks and starts a run of three in the next four – but Evans reckons the players prefer the extra workload.

He said: "I think we can adapt and I know all the players prefer it when you've got games coming one after the other. You can get in a good rhythm.

"Thankfully I've played the last few games now. I'm not quite there yet but I'm starting to get my full match fitness."