Sam Stringer previews the weekend’s fixture…
Saturday afternoon sees the mid-table clash of Colchester and Port Vale at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Whilst the League One fixture doesn’t exactly scream excitement, there is more to it than meets the eye.
The two men in charge are Tony Humes and Rob Page, who both started the season as youth team coaches at their respective clubs.
September saw both promoted to the role of first-team manager and whilst Page’s appointment was only as caretaker, yesterday saw him get the job full-time.
Both first-time managers have drastically changed their clubs’ fortunes since taking over, with Humes’ Colchester currently enjoying a four-game unbeaten streak.
The U’s are playing an exciting style of football with their youthful side scoring 12 goals in their last six games and picking up eleven points.
They have also shown resilience to come back from a goal down in all of their last four games, going on to win two at home and draw two away.
Visitors Port Vale have had slightly more stuttering form, with both of their last two away games ending in defeat and with ten men.
The Valiants’ were also dealt the news this week that top scorer Tom Pope will likely be out for the next three months, clearly ruling him out of the visit to Essex.
Colchester’s top scorer on the other hand is fully fit and raring to go: Freddie Sears, who has seven goals in 15 games this season.
He is backed up by also in-form Gavin Massey who has three goals in his last four games and scored the winning goal in this fixture last season.
The recent form would point towards a home victory but regardless of the result it makes for a special occasion as two of the Football League’s newest young managers go head to head.
Colchester United recent form: DWDWLW – GF: 12 – GA: 9
Likely line-up: Walker; Hewitt, Eastman, Okuonghae, Clohessy; Gilbey, Fox, Moncur; Massey, Watt, Sears
Port Vale recent form: WDLWLD – GF: 10 – GA: 7
Likely line-up: Neal; Yates, Dickinson, McGivern, Duffy; Birchall, Lines, O’Connor, Marshall; Williams, Slew