Johhn McGreal now knows one thing for certain, the U’s will be gracing league Two again next season (their third in succession). Home defeats to Accrington and the U’s bogey team Notts County have left the mathematically impossible target of only 70 points for the U’s, which sadly will not be enough.

Once again, we will be short by perhaps up to 5 points and that is hardly progress on last season.

Most disappointing for me of course was the expectation that the impossible was on after the Forest Green victory but the failings at home this season have let us down at key times.

Of course, the play offs were not lost last weekend, but immediately after the Coventry victory, when we put in such an insipid performance at Gresty Road. The club never recovered and although we flattered to deceive, we have simply not been good enough when it matters.

Tomorrow we travel to Sincil Bank Lincoln to play the Cowley brothers side who have just beaten Shrewsbury Town (now falling like a lead balloon at the moment after their Checkatrade defeat to the Imps) and sit in sixth place on 68 points from 42 games.

Earlier in the season we won 1-0 at the WHCS and a similar result tomorrow would begin to restore some pride after falling short of our Play Off target. It will of course be a difficult game in front of 9,000 Imps, but all the pressure is now on Lincoln and we have nothing to play for except pride and the opportunity to prove to the faithful that we are capable of getting a result against a potential promotion worthy team.

The recriminations for this failure to challenge for promotion will begin after the Exeter game. Suffice to say, a return of 52 goals from 43 games is poor and most of the reason why we have come up short. Defensively only 49 goals conceded is a strong indicator that our defence has been sound, and it is our inability to win more games that has cost us the opportunity to achieve promotion.

Tomorrow is also not about rebuilding for next season, it is all about securing the points to finish the season strongly.

There will be plenty of time to consider how the team will shape up next season, especially with contracts still to be signed by Walker, Dickenson, Prosser, Lapslie, Wright and Vincent-Young. All of whom we will need (and some new faces) if we harbour belief that we can achieve promotion for the third time of asking.

Some good news Courtney Senior has agreed another two-year deal at the club.

Regarding the team for the Lincoln match, we know that both Dickenson and Lapslie are still unfit and may not play again this season. I am neither a suspicious nor a sceptical person but if I wanted to ensure that both players would appear for Colchester next season, I would make sure that they both stayed “injured” for the final games of the season.

JM must therefore play a strong team to look to secure the maximum points at Sincil Bank.

Walker

Eastman Prosser Kent

Jackson Comley Stevenson Vincent-Young

Szmodics Mandron Senior

Subs:

Barnes Shodipo Wright Murray Ogedi-Uzokwe Loft Inniss

I mentioned a couple of games ago that I felt sorry for Frankie Kent because he was only out of the team for tactical reasons. Well tomorrow JM will revert to a 3,4,3 formation to combat the physical Impish forward line.

The weather tomorrow in Lincoln will be hot - around 20 degrees Celsius and sunny intervals interspersed with cloudy spells. Plenty of fluids will be the order of the day both for the faithful and for the players!

The fayre is in town and so despite the 9,000 crowd at Sincil Bank, car parking will be at a premium around the stadium. Get there early is the call to the faithful.

Safe journey to the travelling supporters.

Enjoy the game and let us record another double this season.

Up the U’s

Photo: Action Images

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