his second successive game to hand the U's a 1–0 win over Oldham. On 17 February, Colchester hosted Milton Keynes Dons, who won 1–0 through a Dele Alli goal. Colchester hosted League One leaders Bristol City on 21 February and took the lead after just three minutes when Tom Lapslie headed in his first professional goal. Eleven minutes later, Macauley Bonne scored his first goal of the season to double the lead. Chris Porter then made it 3–0 after 26-minutes. City pulled a goal back on 50-minutes, and Aden Flint scored on 61-minutes to make it 3–2, but the U's held on for a vital win to move them out of the relegation zone for the first time since November. Following his goal in the previous match, Macauley Bonne was handed a -year contract extension with his original deal expiring in the summer. On 26 February, Bristol City allowed Karleigh Osborne to join the U's on loan until the end of the season. Colchester suffered a 2–0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on 28 February, dropping them back into the relegation zone. March Colchester lost 1–0 at home to Notts County on 3 March. Still refusing to play under Tony Humes, Jabo Ibehre was loaned out to League One rivals Barnsley on 6 March until the end of the season. On 7 March, Colchester suffered a 2–1 defeat at Rochdale, with Chris Porter scoring a penalty for the visitors. Colchester were leapfrogged by relegation rivals Crawley Town on 14 March after suffering their twelfth home defeat of the campaign. Sammie Szmodics had given the U's the lead after 11-minutes, but former U's player Ryan Dickson equalised on 15-minutes. Crawley took the lead before half-time, but David Fox's first goal of his second spell with the club from a free kick levelled the score. Former Colchester loanee Izale McLeod scored the winner for Crawley from the penalty spot after being brought down by Sam Walker. The game featured newly signed Norwich City loanee Jacob Murphy, while South Africa captain Bongani Khumalo signed from Tottenham on loan until the end of the season but did not receive international clearance in time to face Crawley. Fellow Spurs player Kenny McEvoy returned to White Hart Lane after making just one substitute appearance for Colchester. Colchester hosted League One's bottom club Yeovil Town on 17 March. The U's won 2–0 through a David Fox penalty and