COLCHESTER United will check on the fitness of several players ahead of their game at relegation-haunted Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.
The U’s are aiming to bounce back after a 3-1 home defeat against Oldham Athletic on Good Friday, which extended their League Two winless streak to five matches.
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Striker Samson Tovide missed the Oldham defeat due to a hip flexor problem and will be assessed as will Teddy Bishop, who was an unused substitute against the Latics and not fit enough to feature.
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The U’s will also check on striker Will Goodwin, who came on as half-time substitute against Oldham having pulled out of training the previous day.
Colchester boss Danny Cowley said: “Will wasn’t able to start [against Oldham].
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“I had to change the team that we were playing.
“We didn’t keep the ball up the pitch well enough in the first half and were too lightweight.
Assessment – Colchester United head coach Danny Cowley (Image: Richard Blaxall)
“It needed to get in at half-time and make a tactical tweak, a personnel change and to get into their ribs, to be honest because that first half was well short.
“It reminded me of a Colchester team of three years ago, to be honest.
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“We’ve worked really hard here to create some stability for this club and to reconnect the supporters with the team and put a team together that has fight for the badge and we didn’t have that in the first half.
“We were in the ascendency in the second half and when that happens, you have to take your chances.
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“That’s just the hard truth and the reason we haven’t picked as many points up as we would have liked.”
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Cowley is demanding a response from his team at Tranmere today.
Colchester head into the game at Prenton Park in 14th spot with six games remaining and take on a Tranmere side who lie just three points above the relegation zone.
Playmaker – Colchester United’s Jack Payne in action against Oldham (Image: Richard Blaxall)
“We have to recover, lick our wounds and prepare for a good game against a very, very good club at a good stadium,” added Cowley.
“We were disappointed on Good Friday to not get more for our second-half performance because I thought we were in the ascendency and we have to respond.”
