Colchester United Vs Preston North End Match Preview
Npower League One Saturday 3rd March 2012
Venue: Western Homes Community Stadium
Kick Off: 15:00
Referee: Lee Collins (Click here for referee stats)
After a disappointing home draw with Walsall, North End are now faced with the unenviable task of picking themselves up for the long trip to Essex to take on Colchester United.
With just one win in their last six and without any away wins this calendar year, the trip to Essex looks a daunting one for Graham Westley’s side.
North End fans may still be reeling from the 4-2 drubbing handed to the Lilywhites on the opening day of the season from John Ward’s side.
However, much has changed since August with very much new-look side donning the white of Preston North End at the moment.
Just three players that started the opening game of the season are likely to feature on Saturday with Westley not afraid to ring in the changes.
Colchester are just a place and a point ahead of North End in the League One standings meaning a win for the Lilywhites would see them leapfrog United and into the top half.
However, with just two points separating four places North End could find themselves in 16th place should they fall short at the Western Homes Community Stadium.
Form
Colchester United: LWWLDD
Preston North End: LDLWLD
Previous Meetings (For head-to-head stats click here)
As mentioned above the reverse fixture this season saw the curtain raised on the 2011/2012 campaign where John Ward’s side ran a mock at Deepdale.
An early goal from Wordsworth put the visitors ahead before Henderson doubled The U’s’ advantage just after the restart.
Neil Mellor, making his Deepdale return after a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday, halved the deficit on the hour mark only to see Henderson seal his brace five minutes later.
Paul Coutts thought he had given North End a life line by making it 3-2 on 70 minutes but Kayodi Odejayi, the former Barnsley hit man, sealed the points with Colchester’s fourth.
The 7-0 FA Cup triumph in January 2010 aside, the stats against Colchester don’t make great reading for North End supporters with their team not recording a league win against Colchester since the late 80s.
One would have to cast their minds back to May 9th 1987 for such an event, in fact where North End won 1-0 at Deepdale. On that day Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” was number one and Beverley Hills Cop II was about to be released.
North End did the double over The U’s that year having already notched up at 2-0 win at Layer Road in December.
Team News
Jamie Proctor and Steven Smith both featured for the reserves’ 3-1 win over Manchester City reserves on Tuesday but neither are expected to be ready for a first team return.
Craig Morgan could be in contention after missing out through injury and suspension having been placed on Wales’ reserve list for Gary Speed’s tribute match whilst Iain Hume will be hoping for a place in Westley’s starting XI after coming off the bench during the defeat to Walsall.
For The U’s, Karl Duguid could be back in contention after missing Tuesday’s draw with Oldham and Saturday’s draw with Rochdale.
Played for Both, click here