Paul Hurst’s Mariners return to Blundell Park tomorrow to take on Colchester United as his team look to bounce back from consecutive defeats.

Despite coming back from two down away to Sky Bet League Two league leaders Stockport to level up proceedings early in the second half, Town fell to defeat when Louie Barry scored his second to send the Mariners to a 3-2 defeat.

Team News

While Harry Clifton has been ruled out with suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Stockport, Hurst is able to welcome back Luke Waterfall after our captain served his one-match ban following his red card against Accrington Stanley.

Late on, Gavan Holohan exited proceedings at Edgeley Park with an injury – a knock that Hurst confirmed would keep the Irishman out of training today but he didn’t rule him out of featuring on Tuesday night. There were question marks over the fitness of a small number of other players.

Donovan Wilson continued his good goalscoring form this season by scoring his third goal in six matches after missing the start of the season. Only two of his appearances have been from the start this season, with four coming from the bench, and his current goals to minute ratio sees him scoring one goal in every 54 minutes he is on the pitch.

Colchester United

After falling to a home defeat against Harrogate Town on Saturday, the Essex club dispensed with the services of manager Ben Garner with the U’s currently sitting in 23rd position.

Arguably their most high-profile signing this season, Cameron McGeehan returned to the UK from Belgian side Oostende after a three-year spell. Prior to that move, he spent time with Barnsley and Luton Town and the midfielder has two league goals to his name so far this term for Colchester.

Their top scorer this term is Joe Taylor, a striker on loan from Luton Town, who has scored five in eleven league appearances for the U’s.

Form

With ten points to their name this season, Colchester find themselves in the relegation zone and four points behind the Mariners. Under former manager Garner, the Essex side picked up three victories and fell to nine losses in their thirteen matches to this point, conceding 27 goals in the process.

One of their victories – and their sole points on the road this season – came away to Gillingham when they left with a 3-0 victory to their name. Other than that match, they have been defeated in each away match in League Two so far this term.

Both matches between the two sides last season ended with the away sides picking up 1-0 wins with Colchester victorious at Blundell Park in the spring, five months after the Mariners picked up the three points in Essex.

Coverage

Supporters overseas and in the UK will be able to watch the match live on Mariners TV for just £10 with match passes available HERE.

UTM