Colchester United will be aiming to get back to winning ways against a resurgent Salford City side on Tuesday evening in Greater Manchester.
Rescheduled from its original date in January, the U’s will travel to the Peninsula Stadium after back-to-back 1-1 draws against Accrington Stanley and Sutton United respectively.
In their most recent game, Colchester were held by bottom club Sutton after taking an early lead at Gander Green Lane on Saturday afternoon. Cam McGeehan netted his seventh of the season, with Owen Goodman providing a penalty save in the last ten minutes to earn a point.
There were welcome returns for Danny Cowley’s side on Saturday; Arthur Read came back into the starting eleven after recovering from a calf injury that had seen him side-lined for the last couple of games, while Manny Egbo played his first minutes since Boxing Day, returning to the fray after a knee injury at MK Dons.
The Opposition
A good run of form under new boss Karl Robinson has all but eliminated Salford’s relegation fears this season – the new Head Coach has lost just one of his nine games in charge, a 5-1 defeat on the road to Mansfield at the weekend.
Prior to Saturday’s defeat, Robinson had won four and drawn four of his first eight, with impressive victories over promotion hopefuls Crewe, Wrexham and Barrow in that time.
And that form has put them thirteen points clear of the drop zone, now sitting nineteenth with thirty-nine points from thirty-four games.
The Ammies have one of the biggest threats in the division up front, with Matt Smith. Only Macaulay Langstaff has more (twenty-two) than Smith’s tally of twenty-one in thirty-four league games – the former Leeds and Fulham striker has twenty-two in all competitions.
Last season’s leading assist maker, Elliot Watt has been less prolific than his total of fifteen last term (six this campaign), but provides a threat through the middle of the park. He has made twenty-eight appearances throughout this season.
There are three former U’s men within the squad at Salford, but only two are likely to get a game on Tuesday evening. Former loanees in North Essex Luke Garbutt (pictured above)and Dan Chesters both started the last game, while Ossama Ashley’s season has been plagued with injuries.
A top performer in a Colchester United shirt last season, Ossama Ashley has been limited to just eleven appearances – he needed cardiac checks earlier in the season, and has since picked up another injury that has kept him out since mid-January.
Last Time We Met
The U's were victorious in the last meeting with Salford City. In the last game before Christmas 2023, Joe Taylor and Chay Cooper were on target with Conor McAleney netting a late consolation for the visitors.
Ticket Info
Tickets are now off sale from the U's Ticket Office. They will be available on the day from the hosts - click HERE for more information on how to purchase.
iFollow
If you can't make it to the game on Saturday, you can keep up with it via iFollow. Audio Passes (£2.50) are available to supporters in the UK, along with Video Passes (£10). Click HERE to see what options are available for you.
