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City can open a 7 point gap on 4th placed Oldham if we win tonight and in the meantime go back to second spot. Oldham are away at Chesterfield tomorrow. Wigan are 4 points ahead on top of the table, they have a home game with Huddersfield. Bristol City, 1 point ahead of us in second place are at home to Luton.
I would expect Rhys Weston to come immediately back into the side at the expence of Chris Barker. Gary Crioft will revert to left back with Rhys at right back. Fan Zhiyi and Spencer Prior the centre backs. It's likely that Jason Bowen will get the nod ahead of Layton Maxwell to replace the injured Des Hamilton. It's a blow to Des to be out after Lennie said he was going to get a run in the team to prove he can play at right midfield. Maxwell was poor last week and was substituted after himself coming on as a sub. So it looks like it could well be Bowen.
City will either insist on Bowen staying wide right or allowing him to go behind the front two and play a 4 - 3 - 3.
Last season City won at Layer Rd, (match report here) Spencer Prior scoring the only goal in front of just 3,900 spectators. I wouldn't expect any more than that tonight.
Colchester have drawn their last three home league games. Plymouth, Bristol City and Barnsley all had to settle for just 1 point. Colchester were rocked in the FA Cup a few weeks ago when non league Chester beat them at Layer Rd.
City are away again next Thursday (Boxing Day 12 noon) at Luton. Then three home games in a week with Huddersfield on Dec 29th, Swindon on Jan 1st and then Coventry in the FA Cup on Jan 4th. One quick point about the FA Cup, the draw for the 4th round will be made on Monday lunchtime (Jan 6th), back at the time it used to be when I was a kid.