Colchestervs.Bradford

The visitors now trail the playoff places by two points, while their hosts only lead the relegation zone by the same margin.

Match preview

Colchester United head into the weekend aiming to end a tough run of form and move clear of the League Two relegation zone, having seen their lead over the bottom two cut to just two points last weekend.

After avoiding the drop by three points last time around, Danny Cowley's men currently sit 21st having earned just 13 points from their 14 outings, while only winning two of those games.

The most recent of those victories came at home to Tranmere Rovers in September, and they have since endured a seven-match winless run in England's fourth tier, albeit having drawn four of the last six.

The Us' two defeats in that time have come in their last two home matches against Cheltenham Town and Salford City, falling to 2-1 losses in both, before they most recently visited Barrow on Saturday and took a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw, having trailed until injury time before Lyle Taylor snatched a point with a late leveller.

Now on the back of a 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Arsenal Under-21s in midweek, Colchester United will be desperate to build on last weekend's creditable point and end their long wait for a third league win of the season on Saturday to increase their cushion.

Their visitors, meanwhile, travel south aiming to bounce back from consecutive defeats in the fight at the other end of League Two.

After missing out on a playoff place narrowly last season, Bradford City enjoyed a fine start to the new campaign under the management of Graham Alexander, sitting among the division's frontrunners as three straight wins in October left them on 21 points from their first 12 outings.

The Bantams have failed to add a seventh notch to their wins column in three attempts since, though, firstly seeing the winning run ended in a draw away at Cheltenham Town before succumbing to a 2-1 loss at home to fellow Yorkshire side Doncaster Rovers.

Then on the back of a 3-1 FA Cup win over Aldershot Town to book a second-round place, Alexander's men most recently visited Fleetwood Town last weekend and again came away empty-handed, having failed to find a leveller after Ronan Coughlan put the hosts ahead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Having quickly dropped to 10th as a result of their dip in form, albeit only trailing MK Dons and Grimsby Town in the playoffs by two points and Crewe Alexandra by three, Bradford City will look to bounce back to winning ways to improve their standing on Saturday.

Colchester United League Two form:

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D

Colchester United form (all competitions):

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Bradford City League Two form:

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D

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Bradford City form (all competitions):

W

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D

L

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L

Team News

Danny Cowley should deploy a similar Colchester United starting XI from last week's 1-1 draw away at Barrow, with young midfielder Milton Oni remaining sidelined by a long-term injury.

Lyle Taylor will continue to lead the line, having netted his fifth goal of the season to level that game, while Samson Tovide will hope to return in support alongside Jack Payne and either Harry Anderson or John-Kymani Gordon.

Defender Rob Hunt will likely miss out after being forced off in the first half against Barrow, meaning Mandela Egbo should come in to join Tom Flanagan, Aaron Donnelly and Ellis Iandolo in a back four.

Despite their 1-0 defeat, Graham Alexander should also field a similar Bradford City side from last week, with Vadaine Oliver again hoping to get the nod up front in their 3-4-1-2 shape.

He will hope to get the nod alongside star man Andy Cook, who leads League Two's scoring charts with eight goals so far this season, taking his tally to 65 alongside 20 assists in 164 fourth-tier appearances for the Bantams.

Clarke Oduor may again have to settle for a place on the bench, with Jamie Walker, Calum Kavanagh and Richie Smallwood preferred in midfield, while Jack Shepherd should return to the back three after missing the trip to Fleetwood due to a suspension.

Colchester United possible starting lineup:

Macey; Egbo, Flanagan, Donnelly, Iandolo; Woodyard, McDonnell; Tovide, Payne, Gordon; Taylor

Bradford City possible starting lineup:

Walker; Halliday, Byrne, Shepherd; Benn, Walker, Smallwood, Pointon; Kavanagh; Oliver, Cook

We say: Colchester United 1-1 Bradford City

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