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SHRIMPERS
A full squad for Blues boss Steve Tilson to choose from for the Essex derby with the news that left back Johnny Herd is available to play, however it would be a surprise if he ousted Wolves loanee Scott Malone at this stage without even a reserve game under his belt.
This is going to be a tough one with the Farmers going well but the Shrimpers have raised their game at home to the top teams and I wouldn't be surprised to see them gain the full three points, following the youth and reserve teams who have already recorded victories over our local neighbours.
Good luck to everyone travelling to the game with the lack of transport available.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Grant, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Christophe, McCormack, Barnard, Walker, Moussa.
Subs: Joyce, Sankofa, Herd, O'Keefe, Scannell, Freedman, Asante.
OPPOSITION
Colchester will be without powerful Nigerian striker Kayode Odejayi even though he has now signed a permanent contract with the club from Championship Barnsley. He will not be allowed to play for the U's again until the transfer window opens in January.
Midfielder David Fox is available though after recovering from a rib problem.
Ex-loanees from the start of the season, full back John White and centre back Matt Heath, should return with the squad, in fact White has forced himself back into new manager Aidy Boothroyd's first team plans and will probably start.
| 3 | Norwich City | 22 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 48 | 27 | 42 | +21 | ||||
| 4 | Colchester United | 21 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 19 | 39 | +16 | ||||
| 5 | Huddersfield Town | 22 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 45 | 28 | 35 | +17 | ||||
| 6 | Swindon Town | 20 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 26 | 34 | 0 |
Last Time Out: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Colchester United 2
Albion suffered an eighth defeat in 11 home games but were clapped off by their fans. The Seagulls went down 2-1 to Colchester, who now go third, despite creating plenty of chances.
Gus Poyet's men eventually paid a high price for an awful start to the game. They were in disarray as they slipped two down inside the quarter-hour.
Phil Ifil flashed in a fabulous finish from the edge of the box after just nine minutes as Albion backed off. The visitors' razor sharp start to the game was further rewarded five minutes later by an Anthony Wordsworth header after Albion's left side was ripped open while Adam El-Abd was receiving treatment to a head wound. Kevin Lisbie's overhead kick smacked against the bar as Colchester went close to killing off the contest.
However the introduction of Jimmy McNulty for unlucky El-Abd immediately gave the hosts extra balance going forward. Elliott Bennett lobbed just wide and saw a free-kick brilliantly saved by Ben Williams, Glenn Murray and Andrew Crofts shot wastefully over from close in, Murray had a great finish ruled out for a marginal offside and Tommy Elphick saw his header cleared from just in front of goal before the lifeline came on 42 minutes.
Nicky Forster was the creator by chasing a Colchester clearance and crossing from deep for Gary Dicker to arrive late and guide a diving header across Williams' dive.
That set up the prospect of a thrilling second half but Albion, despite some attacking substitutions, could not drag themselves level. Murray somehow hit the post from close range from Forster's low cross, then Williams produced a great block from Forster, but there was no way through to a deserved point for the Seagulls.
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(Match report supplied by www.theargus.co.uk)
PREVIOUSLY
Col U, Col U what's the score? 30-25 to the Shrimpers!
The competitive head-to-head record is 30 wins to Southend, 25 wins for Colchester and 17 draws.
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REF
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/141/1/grant-hegley
FIXTURES
Monday, December 28th, 2009; (all kick-offs 15.00 unless stated): Brentford v Charlton, Colchester v Southampton, Exeter v Gillingham, Hartlepool v Oldham, Huddersfield v MK Dons, Leyton Orient v Southend, Millwall v Bristol Rovers, Stockport v Leeds, (12:00), Swindon v Yeovil, Tranmere v Carlisle, Walsall v Norwich, Wycombe v Brighton.
BET
To Win:
Southend - 9/5, Draw - 12/5, Colchester - 6/4.
Colchester Town, nicknamed 'The Oystermen', were the original local side, established in 1867 and playing at Layer Road from 1909 until 1937, when they were dissolved.
The stadium was originally owned by the army, who still have a strong presence in the town, until it was purchased by the club in 1919.
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 elected to the Football League in 1950. They spent most of the 50s, 60s and 70s either in the third or fourth tiers before spending the 80s in the fourth tier.
However the club got into financial problems towards the end of the 80s and 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.
They then finished around mid table in the fourth tier for the next 3 seasons before reaching the play-offs in 1995-96 but losing in the semis to Plymouth Argyle.
In the 1996-97 season Colchester were runners up in the Football League Trophy and just missed out on the play-offs by 1 point. But in 1997-98, they got themselves promoted by winning the play-offs to the third tier.
They then consolidated their position in that division before achieving promotion in 2005-06 to the second tier of English football, the Championship, by finishing in second place in League One to eventual Champions, their local rivals Southend United.
They also had a good FA Cup run that season before losing in the 5th round to Chelsea despite taking the lead.
After a slow start to the 2006-07 season, they soon entered the higher reaches of the division and there was even talk of a challenge for promotion to the Premier League, before they finished tenth in the final table, their highest ever placing.
The following season Colchester finished bottom of the Championship with 38 points and were relegated back to League One. They went on to finish 12th in that league in 2008-09.