“We have to all keep working as a collective to get more and more clean sheets, because ultimately, as the saying goes, attack wins you games, defence wins you titles,” said the U’s head coach, using a phrase once famously used by legendary former Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
There's still a long way to go this season but Colchester are undoubtedly a team on the up.
FAN'S VIEW: Important U's win, big calls and a celebration twinged with sadness
The U’s sit top of the League Two form guide, having taken 13 points from a possible 18 in their last six matches.
Colchester have lost just one of their previous eight league games and have won their last four matches in all competitions, including back-to-back away wins against two of the division’s top four sides.
The U’s well-deserved 2-0 triumph over Cheltenham Town at the weekend took them up to tenth spot in the table, just two points off the play-off positions.
Only six teams in the fourth tier have scored more than Danny Cowley's current tally of 28 goals, after 18 games; only seven have conceded fewer than their 21 goals against.
Chat - Danny Cowley talks tactics with his Colchester United players (Image: STEVE BRADING)
A win over Gillingham at the JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday lunchtime will take them into the top five.
And all this without being able to rely on the services of numerous players such as Jack Payne, Teddy Bishop and club captain, Tom Flanagan, due to injury.
“We feel like we can be a good team but we always feel a little bit as if we put one fire out and another one starts,” said Cowley, referring to the aforementioned injury setbacks.
“It always feels such a challenge to win but we feel like if we can keep the group fit and healthy, we feel like we’re a team that has pace and athleticism and we feel like we’re a team that has goals in it.
Colchester skipper Tom Flanagan ruled out for several months with knee injury
“When you play with two forwards, you’re always going to stress the back seven - the goalie and the back four and the two midfielders, so credit to them.”
One of the most notable elements of Colchester’s impressive form has been the way in which they have been starting recent games.
The U’s have been fast out of the traps, with their match against Cheltenham at the weekend a case in point.
Indeed, Harry Anderson might easily have put Colchester ahead after just 22 seconds when he burst through on goal if it wasn’t for the alertness of Cheltenham goalkeeper, Joe Day.
Just seven minutes, they were ahead through Kyreece Lisbie's clinical finish.
Cowley said: “We’re working really hard on our starts.
Fast start - Colchester United winger Harry Anderson (Image: STEVE BRADING)
“We actually started really well against Walsall and I know we conceded early against Notts County but we’d had a really good way in and it was the same [against Cheltenham].
“We wanted to really get on the ascendency – Harry had that chance really early on when he got in behind and I liked the purpose that we played with, in that early part of the game.”
It is not just about Colchester’s starting XI, either.
Yilmaz Aksoy reflects on his 'whirlwind' time at Colchester United after exit
Will Goodwin, John Kymani Gordon, Owura Edwards and Jaden Williams all stepped off the bench to good effect against Cheltenham, reiterating the strength of attacking options the U’s have at their disposal.
“I was really proud of the boys that came on,” added Cowley.
“We’re 2-0 up and they could easily have come on and they want to do well themselves and can almost play for themselves but they all played for the team and did what the team needed.”