v 
SHRIMPERS
Expected an announcement Sunday of where we stand re injuries there was nothing new from Tilly's quote below on Friday.
We have been here before of course, and everyone's been OK on the day, so let's wait and see, but this is going to a tough task in front of the watching Sky thousands, a draw would be a very good result.
Blues boss Steve Tilson told www.echo-news.co.uk: "Francis has tweaked medial ligaments in his knee and Damian is also now getting treatment. Hopefully they will be fine though because we're short of options right now."
Look forward to seeing the Arsenal boy though, a Gooner workmate of mine says he's the real deal, but this is football league, not the Youth Cup, so good luck Sanchez.
Dead men walking: Ian Joyce (neck injury), Pat Baldwin (terms of loan agreement), Anthony Grant (ankle), Alan McCormack (suspended), Stuart O'Keefe (suspected hernia), Francis Laurent (doubtful - knee), Scott Vernon (terms of loan agreement), Damien Scannell (limped off in training).
Throw in a Simon, Adam and Johnny, and that's not a bad side!
So going ahead that Francis and Damien are unfit; (if they are given the nod to play, the team choice is yours!)
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Barrett, M'Voto, Herd, Francis, Moussa, Christophe, Malone, Spencer, Watt.
Subs: Bentley, Paterson, Freedman and some kids.
OPPOSITION
Defenders Christian Ribeiro and Paul Reid have also been passed fit to make the Colchester squad.
Boothroyd told www.gazette-news.co.uk: "I've got a bit of thinking to do."
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 30 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 53 | 33 | 57 | +20 | ||||
| 4 | Colchester United | 28 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 29 | 52 | +14 | ||||
| 5 | Millwall | 29 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 30 | 49 | +12 | ||||
| 6 | Swindon Town | 27 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 41 | 33 | 49 | +8 |
Last Time Out - Colchester United 2 Carlisle United 1
Colchester boss Aidy Boothroyd held his hands up and admitted Carlisle United were robbed during Tuesday's controversial 2-1 win. Boothroyd admitted Kayode Odejayi's dramatic injury-time winner WAS offside. Furious Carlisle players surrounded referee Gary Sutton when the U's super-sub slammed home from close range.
Blues boss Greg Abbott also claimed that his side should have been awarded a penalty when Colchester's former Carlisle keeper Ben Williams fouled debut striker Darryl Duffy in the box.
Boothy today expressed sympathy for Carlisle following the cruel defeat at the hands of Odejayi, the former Cheltenham striker who infamously scored the goal that sent the Cumbrians into the Conference in 2004.
Boothroyd said: "I was jumping up and down delighted at the end, but I think it might have been offside. These things happen and it's unfortunate for Carlisle, but I don't think anyone can argue that we didn't deserve it because of the chances we had in the second half. That sort of thing will happen to us later in the season and I won't moan about it when it does because I know these things even themselves out."
Ian Harte's 11th goal of the season had put the Cumbrians into a half-time lead before Clive Platt levelled on the hour.
Substitute Odejayi, the former Cheltenham hitman who infamously scored the goal that sent Carlisle into the Conference in 2004, then struck the controversial last-gasp winner.
Ex-Blue loanees from only the start of the season, John White and Matt Heath, both started in the U's side.
Catch the goals here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/
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PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
The stadium is functional and well presented, but as with a number of new stadiums built in recent years, it lacks character and is nothing 'out of the ordinary'. The ground is comprised of four separate stands.
The Main Stand on one side of the pitch is a little taller than the other three stands, which are the same height. All the stands are covered single tiered, all seated stands. The Main Stand has a row of executive boxes/corporate hospitality areas running across the top of it, whilst the others are simply seating areas.
The South Stand though, at one end of the stadium, does have a Police Control Box incorporated into it, on one side beneath the roof. All the stands have translucent panels built into their roofs as well as a perspex strip just below them, which allows more light and facilitates pitch growth.
The Club have decided to relocate supporters for the 2009/10 season to the opposite end of the North Stand. Away fans are housed at one end of the stadium in the South Stand, where up to 1,900 supporters can be accommodated.
As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities and view of the playing action are good. The away stand is particularly steep, meaning that fans are kept close to the pitch and resulting in good sight lines. A varied range of food is available on the concourses.
John Hill, a visiting Huddersfield Town fan, told www.footballgroundguide.com: "One pleasing feature was that at 6'2", I was still okay for leg room, which is not always the case at some other grounds. We caught the shuttle bus from the station and it worked surprisingly well. We got to the ground easily, and afterwards they let the buses out of the car park before cars, which led to a fairly swift return to the station and an easy getaway".
Peter Clark, an Ipswich Town fan, adds: 'There appears to be no facility to pay cash at the turnstiles, so you have to buy your tickets from the Ticket office if you haven't alreday bought them in advance'.
Mick Hubbard also informed the Guide: "The ground is not in a great place. Like Chester, the club has been despatched to a far-flung part of town, sitting the the edge of a new business park, surrounded by wasteland. Although the facilities were excellent, it is quite a depressing location for a "community" club".
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
Light rain and 3c's during the day, so a touch colder for the game.
REF
The man in the middle is Nigel Miller from County Durham.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/153/1/nigel-miller
FIXTURES
Monday, February 8th: Colchester v Southend, (19.45).
Tuesday, February 9th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Brighton v Huddersfield, Bristol Rovers v Walsall, Swindon v Oldham.
Saturday, February 13th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Brentford v Wycombe, Brighton v Norwich, Carlisle v MK Dons, Huddersfield v Swindon, Leyton Orient v Leeds United, Millwall v Exeter, Oldham v Walsall, Southend v Tranmere, Stockport v Colchester, Yeovil v Gillingham
BET
To Win:
Colchester - 4/6, Draw - 11/4, Southend - 9/2.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/colchester_united_450471/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking hostelries around Colchester, and we recommend you go into the Old Town or have a pint at the stadium, go here:
HISTORY
Shortly before Town folded, Colchester United was set up. The owners had intended to run both teams, one professional and one amateur, under the same umbrella but the Essex County FA ruled that both teams could not be run under one set of rules, and so Town were wound down.
In the 1947/48 season Colchester, then in the Southern League, produced one of the most notable F.A. Cup runs by a non-league side, beating fellow-non-league side Banbury Spencer in the First Round before beating league clubs Wrexham, Huddersfield and Bradford Park Avenue. They finally fell to Blackpool in the fifth round.
United went from strength to strength, and they were promoted to the Football League in 1950.
The Farmers are perhaps most famous for beating Don Revie's Leeds United 3-2 in the 5th round of the FA Cup in 1971.
They lost their league status for two seasons from relegation in 1990 until 1992, when they won a non-league double by collecting the Conference title and the Football Trophy.
In 1996-97 season Colchester were runners up in the Football League Trophy and in more recent times they won promotions from League One (in 2005-06) claiming second place to the Championship.
2006-07 was Colchester's first season in the second tier of English football, and after a slow start they soon entered the higher reaches of the division and there was even ambitious talk of a challenge for promotion to the Premier League. In the end, they finished 10th in the final table above some much more fancied sides including Leeds United, Norwich City and Crystal Palace despite having the division's lowest attendance.
2007-08, however, was less successful, as Colchester finished bottom of the Championship with 38 points and were relegated back to League One.
Colchester United now play in the new Weston Homes Community Stadium, following the last game at Layer Road at the end of last season but it took them until the last Saturday in October to record their first win there.
After some big money signings to replace players they lost over the close season they started poorly and manager Geraint Williams paid the price on September 22 2008 when he left the club by 'mutual consent'.
Paul Lambert was appointed head Farmer after resigning as manager of Wycombe in May this year after the club were knocked-out of the League Two play-offs. Lambert has also managed Livingston in Scotland and won a Champions League winners' medal with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
However, last September Lambert did a runner to Norwich City and ex-Watford man Aidy Boothroyd took over. Installing a more direct style he's kept Colchester in with a good chance of making the 2009/10 play-offs.
For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester_United_F.C.