Can’t see anything other than a right pasting tonight I’m afraid. We’re off to the Something something Stadium in the beautiful (!) town of Colchester, who sit in 4th place in the table. Great.
County have lost the last 5 league games, the latest a gutting 3-1 defeat to Exeter in the last minutes of the match after Michael Rose’s superb equalising free-kick.
Colchester are currently under the management of Aidy Boothroyd and County’s ex-assistant manager under Gary Ablett, John Ward. Ward made a lot of friends at EP after a successful 5-week spell, until Boothroyd offered him the chance to jump ship and join the U’s.
*BY THE WAY – Can we have all these silly ‘Ablett Out’ chants and comments on match-days and in general. Don’t be stupid. Thanks.
Vital Quotes:
John Ward: “I was there at the start of the season and that will help.’
“It won`t hinder anything and we also had someone at their game against Exeter on Saturday to watch them play.’
“We will have the information on them and put it all together for the team and if I can help with any little bits that are personal, then I`ll do so.’
“There are a lot of really good people at Stockport.’
“I obviously hope that we beat them tonight but I hope that they survive and do well themselves, because they deserve to do that.”
Gary Ablett: ‘Bignall is back in Reading because they found something they want to look after.’
‘So we’re down to our young players like Andy Halls, Tom Fisher, Sam Barnes and John Disney, but these kids are pushing because they’re doing ever so well.’
‘It may be a bit soon for some of these younger ones, but we’ll stick with what we’ve got and keep going.’
Colchester Team News:
Defender Marc Tierney – brother of ex-County loanee Paul – must serve a one-match ban for Colchester, who also miss Medy Elito, sitting out the second game of a three-match suspension.
John White fills in at left-back and Phil Ifill returns on the right, but Josh Payne has returned to West Ham.
Player to watch: Kayode Odejayi
Much-travelled striker has hit seven goals in his last nine and always seems to excel against the Hatters.
County Team News:
Nick Bignall has returned to Reading for treatment on a calf injury, and is a doubt for next weekends FA Cup clash with Torquay.
Oli Johnson hasn’t travelled with the squad (although the way he’s been going, we won’t notice if he’s with us or not!)
Youngster John Disney will step up to take a place on the bench and Danny Pilkington is in line for a start.
Player to watch: –
Really no idea. I can’t see anything other than a big win for the U’s so I really don’t know.
Match Odds
Colchester – 1/2
Draw – 3/1
County – 6/1
Match Prediction:
4-0 Colchester? Sorry lads.
Next Fixtures:
Saturday, 28 November 2009
The FA Cup
COUNTY v Torquay, R2, 15:00
