Colchester United travel to face Chesterfield in a League Two fixture on Tuesday evening at the Proact Stadium. The match kicks off at 19:45 as the U's look to improve a league position of 20th, having taken 11 points from their opening 10 games.
Their recent form shows three draws and two defeats from the last five league outings, a sequence that includes a goalless stalemate at home to Exeter City last Saturday. That result left them with a goal difference of minus three, having scored 10 and conceded 13 so far this season. They now face a Chesterfield side sitting seventh, a team that has had mixed results but secured a 4-2 win over Tranmere earlier this month.
Manager Danny Cowley fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation against Exeter. Lo-Tutala started in goal behind a back four of Hunt, Tucker, Fiacre Kelleher and Iandolo. The midfield pivot was Digby and Williams, with Thorn, Michael Olakigbe and Ihionvien supporting striker Lubala. That same group will be hoping for a more productive trip to Derbyshire.
Colchester's last five matches across all competitions read: a draw with Exeter, a 1-0 loss at Newport County, a 1-1 EFL Trophy draw with Luton, a 2-2 league draw at Shrewsbury and a 3-1 EFL Trophy defeat at Peterborough. Chesterfield's recent run includes a 1-0 loss at Port Vale, a 2-2 draw at Crawley, that 4-2 win over Tranmere, a 2-1 loss at Cheltenham and a 1-1 EFL Trophy draw with Port Vale. The Spireites will be without a win in three league games themselves.
Colchester have won just one of their last six league matches, a 2-1 victory at home to Grimsby Town on September 14. The team's away form this season includes one win, one draw, and three defeats in the league. Chesterfield, managed by Paul Cook, have won four, drawn three, and lost three of their opening 10 league fixtures. Key players for the hosts include striker Will Grigg, who has scored five league goals this season, and midfielder Liam Mandeville.
With the gap to the automatic promotion places already significant, Tuesday's game represents a chance for Colchester to build momentum. A look at the standings shows they are 11 points behind leaders Salford City. The next fixture after this is another away trip, to face Crawley Town on Saturday. Securing a positive result at the Proact would provide a vital boost ahead of that run of games. The match will be refereed by Sam Purkiss, with assistants Daniel Cook and Paul Kelly, and fourth official Stephen Parkinson.
