JAKE Wright admitted it was difficult to put thoughts of Mitchell Cole to one side in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town in npower League Two.

The squad warmed up in commemorative T-shirts and took part in a minute’s applause in tribute to the 27-year-old, who died a week earlier.

United never looked themselves throughout and despite leading for more than 50 minutes through Adam Chapman’s strike, they could took only a point from the game.

Wright, one of several players in the squad who were teammates with Cole during his spell at United, said: “I think it was always going to be in the back of your mind, especially for the boys who knew him. “Everyone wanted to win so badly for him, but it wasn’t to be. “The minute’s applause and the T-shirts were really nice touches, it’s not going to go anywhere to helping his loved ones, but we just tried to do our little bit and let his family know we’re thinking of them.”

A fundraising game against Stevenage, another of Cole’s clubs, has been suggested for after the end of the season.

U’s chairman Ian Lenagan said in his programme notes he hoped to confirm a date very soon and it is something the skipper would back wholeheartedly.

Wright said: “Anything that the players can do and me personally as club captain to help or raise awareness I would like to do. “It’s a horrible situation, but we’ve got to get together and keep going as a team.”