Latics up for a challenge

Dave Penney

CONFIDENCE is high in the Athletic camp as the team prepares to embark on a week-long challenge which will see them pitched against League One’s top three clubs.

Dave Penney’s resurgent side travel to third-placed Colchester tomorrow and Leeds United (second) on Tuesday.

Those trips are followed by tomorrow week’s visit of leaders Norwich City, so Athletic will need all their new-found belief if they are to pick up vital points.

However, Penney expects his team to rise to the challenge.

“The players have been full of confidence in training this week and these are the games you should thrive on,” said the Athletic boss.

“These three teams will provide a really good test for us, but it’s good to have a settled side and there won’t be too many changes tomorrow.”

A glance at the two clubs’ placings in the League One table suggests that, with home advantage, Colchester are overwhelming favourites to pick up all three points at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

But Athletic, out of the relegation zone following two vital wins in their last three matches, do not consider themselves as cannon fodder for the U’s, who won 1-0 at Yeovil in midweek.

Penney expects a potent physical challenge from Colchester, who are managed by his good friend Aidy Boothroyd.

He said: “I am not surprised they are doing so well. They are a strong team and we will have to be on our guard at set-pieces.

“But they have good players such as (David) Prutton and are quite capable of mixing it up, like all good teams.”

ATHLETIC (from): Brill, Goodwin, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson, Smalley, Stephens, Furman, Taylor, Abbott, Price, Colbeck, Whitaker, Parker, Black, Brooke, Marrow, Flahavan.

Colchester may stick with the same side which drew 2-2 at Stockport and beat Yeovil in their last two matches.

Winger Ashley Vincent, back in contention after a five-month lay-off with an ankle problem, is pushing for a place in the squad, but injured striker Kevin Lisbie is struggling and may be forced to sit it out again.

COLCHESTER (from): Williams, White, Okuonghae, Heath, Tierney, Prutton, Izzet, O’Toole, Wordsworth, Platt, Odejayi, Cousins, Ifil, Batth, Fox, Henderson, Elito, Gillespie, Vincent.