COLCHESTER United front-runner Richard Garcia is confident that the U's can continue their excellent home form when Sheffield Wednesday visit Layer Road tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.

By Mel Henderson

COLCHESTER United front-runner Richard Garcia is confident that the U's can continue their excellent home form when Sheffield Wednesday visit Layer Road tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Garcia spurned the U's best chance in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Wolves, which ended a fine six-match unbeaten run. The Australian fired wide from Kevin Watson's 38th-minute corner at Molineux, and also had a late goal ruled out for deliberate handball.

Despite that reverse, Geraint Williams' men actually climbed a place in the Championship table, leapfrogging Ipswich Town into 13th slot. They look sure to drop a few rungs this evening, when most of their rivals are in action, but Garcia believes that they can kick-start another good run at home to Wednesday tomorrow.

“We are not getting rolled over by any team. It's not a great feeling to lose, but we are staying positive,” insisted Garcia.

“We are beginning to make Layer Road a fortress. We've won our last three home matches, and we want to get over our defeat at Wolves with a win over Sheffield Wednesday.

“We have managed to get on the front foot in our recent home games, and that's what we will be trying to do again. Playing on our tight pitch suits our style of play,” added Garcia.

Former West Ham attacker Garcia began Saturday's game on the right flank, but ended it up front alongside Jamie Cureton, following the introduction of substitute Kevin McLeod for target man Chris Iwelumo.

Garcia will probably revert back to the right flank this evening, with manager Williams unlikely to tamper with his starting line-up.

“The Wolves centre-halves coped well with our aerial threat, so it was worth changing things. I didn't mind going up front, because it brought me more into the game,” continued Garcia.

“Jamie (Cureton) was not very happy with my miss in the first-half, because he was standing just behind me. We've had a joke about that, because I reckon he put me off!

“I'm really enjoying this season. We're getting to play at some terrific grounds, which is what it's all about. And we've been backed by some tremendous support.

“I'm still hoping to play for Australia at some time. Playing in the Championship gives me a better chance, though I have to concentrate on my career at Colchester,” added Garcia.

Tomorrow's visitors Sheffield Wednesday clambered out of the bottom three with a last ditch 2-1 win at Yorkshire rivals Barnsley on Saturday. The Tykes had to play the final 66 minutes with just 10 man, following Paul Heckingbottom's dismissal, and the Owls grabbed an injury-time winner from Chris Brunt.