New-boy Clarke has the inside track on U’s

NATHAN CLARKE: on loan at Colchester last season, he stays in touch with some of his former teammates.

THREE hours of football can dictate the whole atmosphere of a club at this stage of the season.

So it is that while Athletic are cock-a-hoop after firing their campaign with two npower League wins in succession, tomorrow's opponents Colchester are down in the dumps after being beaten twice inside five days.

There are mitigating circumstances for the U's, one of a host of clubs to have reined in their spending during the summer.

A current lowly position of 17th in League One doesn't appear too promising, but both of the club's latest losses came against sides expected to push hard for automatic promotion.

A 2-0 midweek reverse at home to Charlton, whose Bradley Wright-Phillips netted a pair, was followed by a 3-2 loss at Huddersfield last weekend.

Prior to a second-half turnaround, the U's were 2-1 up and tweaking the nerves of the tetchy home faithful at the Galpharm Stadium, thanks to a third goal of the season from powerful forward Kayode Odejayi and on-loan Reading winger Michail Antonio. In the end, they were unfortunate not to get a point.

The most impressive result John Ward has overseen this term was the 4-2 opening-day win at relegated Preston North End.

Ian Henderson — who operates wide on the left in a three-pronged attack — scored twice that afternoon in a performance which served to illustrate the new-found attacking intentions of Colchester in 2011-12.

Little has changed in terms of personnel from last season. Left-back Michael Rose has joined from Swindon and midfielder David Perkins has departed for pastures new at Barnsley in the Championship.

All in all, though, Colchester remain a physically imposing side keen to play solely in their opponents' territory.

One man who will know just what the U's are all about is Nathan Clarke.

The centre-back, who scored a debut goal against Rochdale last week, was on loan at the Weston Homes Community Stadium earlier this year and played as his side saw off Athletic 1-0 in March.

"They are the same bunch of lads I knew and I still keep in touch with a few of them," said Clarke of his old club, who were reportedly keen on signing him permanently in the summer after a successful run of 18 games.

"They are a strong side and John Ward is a good manager who will have them fired up for it."