Dunne pinning hopes on U-turn

ATHLETIC appear to be facing Colchester United at exactly the right time.

Purely on statistics, the teams at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Saturday appear evenly balanced.

Both the Essex club and Athletic have won six npower League One games, drawn five and lost nine. The only thing splitting the side in the standings is Athletic’s superior goal difference.

But form-wise, there is a big disparity.

Colchester’s manager Joe Dunne can have been forgiven for thinking the job was an easy one at first. After John Ward was sacked in September, 39-year-old former player Dunne moved from a backroom coaching role to become the club figurehead, and gave the team a new lease of life with five wins in his first six league matches in charge.

But the purple patch didn’t last, and a recent poor defensive record has contributed to his side sinking back down the table. In their last seven matches, Colchester have conceded 18 goals.

With only one defeat in four, Athletic will travel south tomorrow in confident mood. The last time an Athletic side beat them away was in 2002.