Opposition profile: Colchester United

CURRENT POSITION

The U's come into the match sitting 19th in the division after winning three games, drawing five matches and losing six fixtures.

Their last win came on October 16th, when they were 1-0 victors at home to high-flying Harrogate Town. Sylvester Jasper notched the decisive goal that day.

LAST TIME OUT

Sutton United were 3-1 winners at Colchester on Tuesday night.

The U's took a second-minute lead through Freddie Sears, who controlled Charlie Daniels' cross in the area before firing home a low shot.

But Sutton levelled after 12 minutes when David Ajiboye beat Daniels to score at the far post following skipper Rob Milsom's deep cross.

Things took a real turn for the worse for Colchester when they fell behind and went down to 10 men.

Isaac Olaofe prodded the ball towards goal after goalkeeper Shamal George had dropped a corner and Samson Tovide was adjudged to have deliberately handled on the goal line and was sent off by referee Bobby Madley with Milsom converting the resultant penalty.

Omar Bugiel almost added to Sutton's lead in first-half stoppage-time with a low shot that sailed just wide.

But the visitors wrapped up victory in the 61st minute through Ben Goodliffe, whose glancing header from Milsom's free-kick into the area flew in.



THE HEAD COACH



Hayden Mullins joined the U's initially as the Assistant Head Coach in September 2020, before taking charge of the first team in March 2021.

The former midfielder started his playing career with Crystal Palace, making over 250 appearances for the South London side, before making the switch to the east end with West Ham.

Mullins was a key part of the Hammers' side that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2004/05, going on to make over 200 appearances for the Upton Park outfit before levaing to join Portsmouth in 2009. He was part of the starting eleven that narrowly lost the 2010 FA Cup Final to Chelsea, staying at Pompey despite relegation the same year.

Further spells at Reading, Birmingham City and Notts County followed before he hung up his boots and joined Reading's academy set up before making the switch to Watford.

He took temporary charge of the Hornets on four occasions, but could not save them from relegation in 2020, leaving Vicarage Road at the end of that season.

Hayden was placed in charge of first team affairs in March 2021 following the departure of Wayne Brown.

Mullins was given the Head Coach job permanently following eight games in charge at the end of the 2020/21 season, after guiding the U's to League Two safety.

TOP SCORER AND FAMILIAR FACE



Freddie Sears is Colchester's leading marksman with four goals to his name so far this term, having re-joined them after spending six years at Suffolk side Ipswich Town.

He left the U's for Ipswich Town in the winter of 2015 to the then Championship side Ipswich Town, but returned to the JobServe Community Stadium on a two-year deal during the summer.

His career started at West Ham United, where he scored on his debut for the Hammers, coming off the bench to score the winner against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League in 2008.

A series of loan spells followed before Sears found his home at Colchester United after a successful loan stint there in the 2011/12 season.

Joining permanently in the summer of 2012, Sears was a regular in north Essex, notching up 36 goals before making the switch to the Tractor Boys, for whom he made over 200 appearances.

Now aged 31, Sears was on loan with the Iron during the 2010-11 Championship season, making nine starts but not scoring.

THE EVER-PRESENT

Goalkeeper Shamal George has started all 14 League Two fixtures so far this term, with strikers Sears and Frank Nouble also appearing in each match.

Defender Luke Chambers and midfielder Cole Skuse have started all but one match.

THE SQUAD