Graeson looks ahead to Saturday's toug trip to promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion.

Colchester United face one of their toughest assignments of the season when they travel to the Midlands to take on West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon. The FA Cup semi-finalist will be desperate for the three points to continue their promotion push which has faltered in recent weeks.

Tony Mowbray's men have slipped from the top of the table to 5th place. They have two games in hand on all of their opponents though and victory in those games would see them top the table by a point. Of course, it’s better to have the points in the bag though but success is very much in their own hands. They face three struggling teams in the U's, Southampton and Norwich while Watford are the only one of the top six they have left to face - their remaining games see them take on Cardiff and QPR away from home.

The Baggies home record is not surprisingly good with only three home defeats all season whilst winning eleven games. They will be disappointed with six home draws but it does mean that Albion have exactly the same records as Stoke City, Bristol City, and Hull City - the current top three sides in the Division.
Goals aren't a problem either with the away net being hit 45 times during the current campaign - the most in the Division.

They've conceded 22 in that time but their goal difference is a healthy +26 - the best in the Division and it could be worth an extra point to them at the end of the season. Leading goal scorer is veteran striker Kevin Phillips with 19 in the league, followed by Roman Bednar on 12 and Ishmael Miller on eight. The U's defence will have their work cut out to prevent them from adding to those totals.

Perhaps surprisingly, The Baggies have failed to win in their last three League games though I suppose, given a Wembley appearance next weekend, that it would be unfair to be overly critical of them taking their eye off the ball. Since beating Bristol Rovers in the Quarter-finals, they were held to a one all draw at home to Palace whilst Steve Howard's hat-trick gave Leicester City a 4-1 at The Hawthorns though Mowbray's side were down to ten men after the 35th minute sending off of Luke Moore. On Bank Holiday Monday they drew at Charlton Athletic. Former U's star Greg Halford headed The Addicks in to the lead but Phillips cancelled out the lead three minutes before the break.

Earlier this season, United produced one of their rare home wins in a five goal thriller at Layer Road. Phillips put the visitors ahead before Yeates' free-kick restored parity. Lisbie then put the U's in front before they were pegged back by Miller's header. It was left to a Mark Yeates' second half penalty to give Williams his second home win of the season.

That was just one of just eight competitive games between these two sides - though of course, I'm not including the Watney Cup Final in 1971 which the U's won on a penalty shoot-out after a 4-4 draw! The Watney Cup was a prestigious pre-season Cup competition to be played between the Division's two highest goal scorers who had not been promoted the previous season. United had seen off Luton and Carlisle in front of a combined attendance of over 16,000 - a figure described as disappointing by the U's Board!

Over 18,000 and a live TV audience of 12 million (the match was commentated on by Barry Davies who described it as one of the best matches ever seen in the country) watched as the two sides slugged it out with the novelty rule of not being offside unless you were in the penalty area. Mick Mahon put the U's ahead, Len Cantello and Jeff Astle put The Baggies 2-1 up. Dave Simmons was next on the score sheet before Hope restored the home side’s advantage. Mahon restored parity midway through the second half and when Lewis scored from the spot it looked as though the U's would win. However, they reckoned without a last gasp Jeff Astle goal meant the game would be settled by a penalty shoot-out, the first time this would happen in England. Each side took eight penalties - Ray Wilson and Cantello would miss for the home side while Jim Cumbes saved from Bobby Cram - which left 17 year old Phil Bloss with the task of winning the match. He duly converted his penalty and the U's had secured a famous victory.

The U's side that day was Graham Smith in goal, Bobby Cram, Brian Owen, John Gilchrist, Brian Garvey, Eric Burgess, Phil Bloss, Brian Lewis, Dave Simmons, Mick Mahon and Brian Gibbs. The Baggies team was Jim Cumbes, Lyndon Hughes, Ray Wilson, Len Cantello, John Wile, John Kaye, Colin Suggett, Ally Brown, Jeff Astle, Bobby Hope and Asa Hartford.

Graeson's Team
United's long injury list does not have appeared to have dramatically reduced itself since last weekend's debacle at Norwich City leaving Williams with few options as he prepares for what I feel is the toughest game of the season against the best side in the Division. His major concern is over the fitness of Kevin Lisbie - who despite the U's struggles has still found the net fourteen times this season. The former Charlton man will surely find glory at the U's end of season awards this season.

So quite how does Williams set up his side for this one? Well, apparently we played 4-5-1 at Carrow Road. That was a disaster and I don't expect Williams to try the same thing again. I think he has to go with a 4-4-2 formation and ensure that the two U's central midfielders rarely get ahead of the ball. On that basis, I think I'd bring in Anthony Wordsworth to partner Kem Izzet with Hammond and Jackson tucking in very narrowly on the wings. It would mean, hopefully, that The Baggies won't be able to play through the U's but will have to go around us - I'm not sure that is one of their strengths.

Clearly, if Lisbie isn't quite fit - and I would save him for the A12 Derby next weekend personally - Scott Vernon will deputise alongside Clive Platt. The former Blackpool man has been unfortunate not to get more of a chance so will have to make his opportunity pay.

So my side will see Gerken in goal with Ifil, Balogh, Virgo and White in defence. The midfield will line up with Hammond on the right, Wordsworth and Izzet centrally and Jackson on the left while Vernon and Platt will have to take any opportunities that might come their way.

Graeson's Prediction
I know I'm usually known for my optimism but even I can't see the U's getting anything from this game. The best hope is that Mowbray puts out a weaker side with the FA Cup Semi-final against Portsmouth next Saturday and that the U's can take advantage of that. However, managers know that reaching the promised land of the Premiership is far more important than being in the Cup Final so I don't think it’s likely to happen.

The U's will score but sadly, so will the Baggies - and more than the U's do. I'll take a 3-1 defeat right now to be honest with the goal coming from a Clive Platt header.

But you never know with the U's - just when you think you understand them, they do something completely shocking. Perhaps tomorrow?

Photo: Action Images

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