The Official Colchester United Match Thread (Sponsored by Leyland DAF LDV Autoglass Johnstone’s Paint and Papa Johns (for all your sponsorship

Back to back defeats in the league have somewhat punctured the feelgood factor around the club, with tonight’s fixture against Colchester in the Football League Trophy being one we could really have done without given our increasing injury list ahead of Cheltenham’s visit at the weekend.

Gills head to Essex this evening to take on a team we’ve faced with depressing regularity in this dreadful competition, meeting them in the group stages in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and now this season. The U’s won their opening game 1-2 away at Wycombe, while Gills thumped Fulham’s kids to leave both sides on maximum points in the Group G table, setting up this mouth-watering top of the table clash.

Coley (ffs) have endured a poor start to their season in the league with just one win prior to Saturday leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone. However, their 6-2 gubbing of Chesterfield at the weekend moved them up to 19th in the table and neutralised their goal difference in one fell swoop, Jack Payne (not that one) notching the first hattrick of his career in the process.

Gills will field plenty of fringe players tonight with Jake Turner, Trevor Akomeah, Nelson Khumbeni, Marcus Wyllie and Lenni Cirino all likely to start, the latter having produced a very positive cameo from the bench on Saturday that must put him in contention for Cheltenham. Euan Williams may well have his first involvement of the season and there’s doubtless the opportunity for youngsters Cruz Beszant, Louie Dayal, Stan Sargent, Harry Webster and Harry Waldock to add to the experience gained in the previous group game.

The head to head is very close, tonight will be the 110th meeting of the sides, Col Ewe lead 39 wins to 38, with 32 draws. For the highlights, I’d love to give you the game in this very competition from 1998-99 when a full-strength Gills side smashed our Essexian chums 1-5 at Layer Road, but sadly, the footage is not on YouTube being lost to the mists of time. Our last two visits to the Colchester Community Stadium in this competition have both ended 0-1 to the Gills, and on both occasions we’ve scored the winner in the 90th minute. Here’s the one from 2017/18, Max Ehmer, of all people, curling in a freekick to win the game. Sean Clare played in that game, earning the club a hefty appearance bonus as a result…

I can’t imagine too many Gills fans will be making the trip for this one, but I wish them safe travels nevertheless. Given I’ll be missing England v Wales on Thursday as a result of Herr Jnr Jnr’s midweek training (inconsiderate child), I’ll probably tune in for this one, just to get my football fix for the week and to see how our youngsters are coming along.

Enjoy the game and…

COYG!!!