High-flying Hull City are the third team to visit Layer Road within seven days, as a U`s relegation escape is looking more and more unlikely.
The U`s slumped to a defeat against Sheffield Wednesday a week ago and only managed a point against Cardiff City on Saturday, so a win is essential tonight.
Buoyed by their 5-0 weekend thrashing of Southampton, the visitors will be expecting to leave Layer Road with a win.
Vital Quotes:
U’s boss Geraint Williams told BBC Essex: ‘While it’s mathematically possible that if we win every game then we stay up in this division, then we’ll keep looking for that.’
‘Every game’s different, they’ve won 5-0, we’ve played well and drawn, but Tuesday is another night and a completely different game.’
‘As long as we go out with that attitude, with that hard work and endeavour, with that ability and the bottle to pass the ball, we’ll take that.’ He added.
Hull veteran striker Dean Windass told BBC Humberside: ‘People get carried away a little bit, there’s a lot of football to be played yet, we’ve got to be careful.’
‘We are ticking on nicely at the moment and we look to the next one.’
‘We have got a massive game against Colchester, the game in hand on Tuesday which won’t be an easy game.’ He admitted.
Colchester Team News:
Williams will be without Chris Coyne, once again, due to a hamstring injury, so loanee Matt Heath is set to keep his place in the side.
Youngsters Medy Elito and Anthony Wordsworth will be hoping to be involved again, after impressing on Saturday. While winger Kevin McLeod could return to the bench, after illness.
Teddy Sheringham (foot), Kevin Watson (calf), Pat Baldwin (knee), Jamie Guy (heel), Mark Cousins (appendicitis), Aidan Davison and Mark Yeates (both shoulder) are all still on the sidelines.
Player to watch: Medy Elito
Elito impressed U’s fans, on his full senior debut, against Cardiff at the weekend. The left-sided winger, 17, will be looking start once again.
Hull City Team News:
Former Colchester players Wayne Brown (calf) and Craig Fagan both miss out through injury, but Richard Garcia should face his old team mates.
Phil Brown may have a selection headache as Jay-Jay Okocha and Caleb Folan are available after suspension, but may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Dean Windass, who returned from injury on Saturday, could feature once again, but Nick Barmby (groin) is out.
Player to watch: Frazier Campbell
Campbell, on loan from Man United, scored against the U’s at Hull in February and will be a danger once again.
Match Facts & Stats
The U’s beat the Tigers, then managed by ex-U’s boss Phil Parkinson, 5-1 in this fixture last season.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Patrick Miller – From Bedfordshire. He ironically took charge of the U’s fantastic 5-1 victory over Hull last season!
Games: 22
Yellow Cards: 58
Red Cards: 4
Assistants: J E Pearce and D K Rock
Fourth Official: J P Magill
Match Prediction:
I’ll go for a 2-2 draw!
Next Fixtures:
The U’s travel to Norwich on Saturday.
You can’t afford to lose another 3 points. Anyway it will be good to take points from Hull.
Na we certainly can’t, yeah will help your play-off cause if we were to win!
Nice work Stevie, could you contact me on my Vital email please matey.
Have done so…