Colchester Preview

A two legged semi final also presents a dilemma as far as match previews go. Do stereo typical comments count double in the away leg preview or would it be acceptable to use the A grade material now and hope that by the second leg the preview is over as a contest. Or come to think of it is there A grade material as far as someone like Colchester goes? Or indeed do I have any A grade material at all? All of these things won't become clear as this preview goes on - you will know the answers already

Of course it can't be easy for Colchester. Living in the shadow of Southend must hurt them but to see that side that provides the shadow winning so comprehensively on their own patch must be really painful. Ouch, I can feel the hurt from here. We could of course face the backlash of that on Tuesday night but then again we may not. So many variables, so many questions unanswered. Hell, its so much easier when there is three points at stake.

Tomorrow is of course the third time we have played Colchester this season and they are yet to win one. They could have if they could take a penalty but they didn't. They also say that you never beat the same side three times in a season. They also say too many cooks spoil the broth and that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. But of course the real question is just exactly who are they? That is one of life's unanswered questions.

And onto Colchester itself. I was somewhat surprised to learn that it is Britain's oldest town. Now the norm with old things is to trade them in for newer models because with the passing of time old things become less and less useful. So quite why Colchester still exists is a mystery to me at the moment but I am sure there is a reason. Maybe in much the same way as there are museums and the like, Colchester is there to serve as a reminder to how things used to be. Maybe they still ration food down that neck of the woods and perhaps they still drive around in cars like you see on the Flintstones? I don't know but maybe there is a reason for it all? Someone explain please?

It is only a few weeks back that the watching nation saw Colchester give Chelsea a bit of a fright on their own patch. It is widely reported that they ran them close before losing out to a couple of late goals. Maybe a fairish comment but in reality how close did they run Chelsea? The facts say not that close as Chelsea never got out of first gear. By that I mean that The Special one never told anyone to off or accused anyone of talking (shock, horror) to the referee. None of their players had to roll around uncontrollably on the floor or dive in two footed on anyone. And Colchester can't be that good - none of their players had tea with Peter Kenyon before, during or after the game. The game was far less closer than the papers would like us to believe!

Onto the team news. Rory Fallon won't play because he is cup tied for the competition so either Knight or Bayo will come into partner Lord Sir Lee Trundle of Swansea up front. Williams is also cup-tied for the game and O'Leary suspended so it will be a re-shuffled defence for the 19th game running. Beaker will probably drop into defence although with our record it wouldn't surprise me to see us line up with a back four of Way, Britton, Knight and Robinson. That should prove a threat to Colchester's aerial game!!

Talking of Colchester the BBC say that their team news will follow later. Later than what it doesn't say but it will follow later. All I know is that Iwulumoewuoumowo will be up front for them and he's quite good. And our defence isn't. Which makes a clean sheet unlikely.

Two games from Cardiff is the reality tomorrow and I've got seven days to prepare a completely different preview for the second leg. Anyone seen a thinking cap?

JACK ARMY!

Matthew Phillips - Meet The Ref