The Twenty-Ninth biggest rival-clash in English football will “take care of itself,” out of the normal context of Colchester United`s League One season, says Paul Lambert.
Colchester face their nearest and dearest, Southend United, on Saturday knowing that a win in vital not only for bragging rights, but because the team want to keep a now oh-so-slim chance of making the top-six alive.
The U`s have been steadied since Lambert`s autumn arrival as boss and want to bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Speaking to the BBC following Saturday`s loss to Walsall, Lambert told Essex radio: “We`ve got a derby game next week, which will take care of itself.
“That is probably a good thing for us, at home with a big crowd there,” he said.
The U`s lost twice in four days following an otherwise great start to 2009, although the Shrimpers beat Colchester`s previous opposition, Tranmere Rovers, last weekend.
“One thing`s for sure, we certainly won`t need to lift the lads for that one,” added Lambert.
The U`s tussle with Southend was voted the 29th-biggest in English Football on a list compiled this time last year called the English Football Rivalries Report.
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