Friday 14 September 2007

U's hope to keep Big Chris quiet

It is often said that the Championship is a competition in which any team can beat any other team and that adage will be tested tomorrow when the Addicks face Colchester United at Layer Road. Colchester were the surprise package of the Championship last season.

They haven't had such a sparkling start this season, currently lying 14th in the table. However, Layer Road is not an easy place to visit (or to get to). In this old fashioned Southern League style ground, the crowd are close to the pitch and make their views known. Leamington's appripriately named Darren Tank was quickly regaled with shouts of 'you fat bastard'. No doubt a blow up doll will not end up in the goal mouth on this occasion as it did when the Brakes scored their only goal.

The two clubs have swapped strikers with Kevin Lisbie joining the U's and Chris Iwelumo coming in the opposite direction, both on frees. Colchester United manager Geraint Williams is relishing the opportunity of facing Iwelumo who scored 37 times in two successful seasons with the U's.

'Big Chris is always a handful, he scored a stack of goals for us in two years and he's started well for Charlton,' said Williams. 'But we know all about him here and we'll be looking to keep him quiet.'

Kevin Lisbie was a Charlton legend of a particular kind. He scored some excellent goals, not least his hat trick against Liverpool or the winners away against Chelsea and Ipswich, but he had a habit of missing from easy scoring positions. Probably he will score just such a simple goal against Charlton tomorrow.

I really have no idea what the result will be, but I think there will be plenty of goals and I am going for 3-2 to the Addicks.

Leamington face Stourbridge away in the FA Cup and we will be letting you know whether they manage to shatter the Glassboys tomorrow, while Paul May will be covering the match at Layer Road.

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