Colchester boss John Ward was pleased to see his side compete in their 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Ian Henderson poked low past Owls goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from close range after three minutes, but Wednesday got back on level terms seven minutes after half-time through Miguel Angel Llera, who converted from close range after Colchester failed to deal with a Chris Lines free-kick.
Ward said: "I have to be pleased with my team. Sheffield Wednesday are a very powerful team and they have lots of weapons in their armoury.
"They are a big side and they threaten you from different angles.
"These are the sorts of games where I want more players to put themselves to the test, against the best teams in the division.
"It was the type of game that your players and your supporters want to have at our football club. Wednesday are a bigger club and we've tried to compete with them on one day, which is what we've done."
© 2013 - British Sky Broadcasting Ltd