COLCHESTER United’s Noah Chilvers has revealed Joe Murphy dished out some penalty advice after he put a crucial spot-kick past the veteran goalkeeper to secure a point against Tranmere Rovers.

Chilvers beat veteran shot-stopper Murphy from 12 yards to equalise for the U’s just after the hour mark and cancel out Harvey Saunders’ opener for the visitors in the 1-1 draw, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Chilvers, who memorably converted Colchester’s winning spot-kick in their Carabao Cup shoot-out win at Crystal Palace back in August 2019, netted his first-ever in-game penalty for the U’s to ensure they claimed a crucial point in their battle to stay in League Two.

And the 22-year-old U’s midfielder said Murphy - 19 years his senior - passed on some of his vast knowledge on spot-kicks, after the game.

Chilvers said: “I spoke to their goalie (Joe Murphy) after the game and he gave me a few tips!

Gazette:

“He said I made it a bit obvious I was going that way, so that’s something to learn for the future!

“That’s the first penalty I’ve taken in a match, in my professional career.

“I took one when I was at Bath on loan and missed and took a few from shootouts.

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“I fancy myself to take pens, so that’s what I’ll try and do.”

For the second successive week, Chilvers played a big part in helping Colchester battle back to rescue a point.

The talented youngster, who netted a superb stoppage-time equaliser in the U’s 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient seven days earlier, had gone close twice before eventually scoring from the spot against Tranmere.

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“I want to be that man that’s the leader, especially in times when we need it,” said man-of-the-match Chilvers, who has made nearly 150 league and cup appearances for the U’s.

“That’s something that I spoke to the new gaffer about, when he first came in.

“When we’re in situations like that when we’re losing or we need something, I’d like to think I can be the man to do that and I think that’s what everyone was trying to do.

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“Everyone was trying to be that man and thankfully in the last couple of games, it’s come off for me.”

Colchester’s 1-1 draw with Tranmere leaves them five points above the relegation zone, with eight games remaining.

The U’s have another home game against Newport County this weekend and Chilvers says securing a crucial win is their main focus.

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“It’s all in our hands,” added Chilvers, who made his senior debut for the U’s back in 2019.

“It’s back-to-back draws, one against the top of the league side where we played really well and then we should have got more (against Tranmere).

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“We know that the performances are there – it’s just about putting the ball in the net.

“We’d have obviously preferred a win but it’s two unbeaten now under the new gaffer and we have to keep pushing and try and get the win, next week.”