U’s vs Coventry

The already relegated U’s welcome Coventry to Layer Road, in which is the penultimate fixture at the U’s historic ground.

The U’s gave a good account of themselves last weekend, at Leicester, and will be hoping to put in a good performance tomorrow.

The Sky Blues are sitting dangerously just one-point above the Championship trapdoor, so a win is essential for Chris Coleman’s side.

Vital Quotes:

U’s boss Geraint Williams told BBC Essex: ‘We’ve got professional pride and we’ve got fans who come to watch us, so it’s important the players show the [right] attitude.

‘We’ve got to make sure the staff keep that going and that we still keep the training interesting and relevant to Saturday’s match.

‘It’s up to the players and the staff to build it up inside and then during the game we hope the fans will build it up because it’s their last two opportunities to bring these walls down before they are actually brought down.’

Coventry chief Chris Coleman told the Coventry Telegraph: ‘It is pointless going into the Colchester game all guns blazing and then die a death.

‘If we manage to get a goal that will be very important but what we mustn’t do is get a goal and get all giddy. We don’t be like we have just won a World Cup final because we have got a goal.

‘We are a good team and expect to score a goal but afterwards you have to have a really cold mentality in the next five or ten minutes when you don’t give silly free kicks away and we keep doing what we are doing, because we have been struggling a little bit like that.’

Colchester Team News:

Colchester are boosted by the return of Teddy Sheringham (foot) to training, although he is unlikely to feature.

Clive Platt and Scott Vernon are set to battle it out to partner Kevin Lisbie up-front.

Danny Granville (groin) is unlikely to feature, Pat Badlwin, Aiden Davison and Mark Yeates (all shoulder) are long-term absentees.

Player to watch: Kevin Lisbie

The Colchester United front-man has 17 goals to his name this season, after notching at Leicester last Saturday. Lisbie has revealed he would like to stay in North Essex, squashing rumours of a summer move away.

Coventry Team News:

Coventry are boosted by the return of Mickael Mifsud (illness), the Maltese striker will be looking to get back on the goal trail.

David McNamee (hamstring) is back in training, but not fitter enough to be considered.

Player to watch: Jay Tabb

Tabb has been arguably the Sky Blues’ best player this season, and he will be looking to put in an impressive performance on Saturday. The Irishman scored at Layer Road, for Brentford, in the U’s promotion winning campaign.

Match Facts & Stats

Last time out against the Sky Blues:

27th October 2007 – The Ricoh Arena

Coventry 1 (Mifsud 81)

U’s 0

The U’s lined up: Davison, Duguid, Baldwin, Connolly, Elokobi (Virgo 87), Yeates, Jackson, Izzet, Granville (McLeod 55), Platt (Sheringham 60), Lisbie.

Attendance: 23,431

Ref Watch:

Referee: Colin H Webster – From Tyne & Wear.

Games: 35

Yellow Cards: 66

Red Cards: 2

Assistants: G S Evetts and C J Francis

Fourth Official: G S Hambling

Match Prediction:

I’ll go for a 2-0 U’s win!

Next Fixtures:

The U’s entertain Stoke next Saturday, in the last ever game at Layer Road.