DAVID Perkins is hoping that high-flying Tranmere Rovers will come out on the attack against hosts Colchester this afternoon.

DAVID Perkins is hoping that high-flying Tranmere Rovers will come out on the attack against hosts Colchester this afternoon.

The U's midfielder believes that the best chance of breaking down visiting teams to the Community Stadium is for the opponents to show some enterprise, rather than to put the emphasis on stout defending.

Perkins scored his first ever league goal for the U's in the corresponding fixture at Prenton Park. The U's held on for a thrilling 4-3 win in what was Kit Symons' first match as caretaker manager, following Geraint Williams' departure.

Now the ex-Rochdale midfielder wants to boost his goals tally in the new year, starting with today's visit of eighth-placed Tranmere. He is currently on three goals.

“Hopefully, Tranmere will come here and attack us. They are on a good run themselves, so they will fancy their chances,” explained Perkins.

“Teams have come to our place and sat in, with 10 or 11 behind the ball, usually with two banks of four.

“But Tranmere have had a decent set of results over Christmas, and they have been scoring some late goals.

“However, at least we have got rid of our home stigma. That's been down to no specific reason other than getting a few results, which breeds confidence,” added Perkins.

The U's recorded only their third home victory, from 13 league and cup starts at the Community Stadium, thanks to Steven Gillespie's first-half penalty in the 1-0 win over Leyton Orient last Sunday.

Paul Lambert's men will now be gunning for back-to-back home wins for the first time since their summer move from Layer Road.

Perkins has happy memories of the trip to Tranmere in September. He will be looking to replicate that in the home fixture, and so help the U's to record a first league double of the campaign

“I scored my first ever league goal for Colchester at Tranmere, in what was a very good game. In fact, it was a great game!” confirmed Perkins. The U's were actually 4-1 up early in the second-half, before Rovers mounted a late rally.

Perkins continued: “I haven't scored as many goals as I would have hoped in my career, but I've set myself a target for this season.

“I actually find it more satisfying to set up goals for others, which I've been managing to do.

“I have liked the challenge of moving up to League One (from League Two club Rochdale). It's no different to what I expected. You either have to raise your game naturally, or else you fall by the wayside.

“I don't mind where I play in midfield. I've been playing in the centre and on the wing. Sometimes I've been swapping flanks with Mark Yeates. He sometimes just turns up on my wing! We have the leeway to do what we want.

“We've had a good Christmas period, and we're going well with 10 points from 12,” concluded Perkins.

Heysham-born Perkins played in non-league with Morecambe until his move to Rochdale two years ago. He bagged six goals in 63 outings for Dale.

Perkins will either partner Dean Hammond in central midfield, or else start on the flank against Tranmere. Defender Chris Coyne is the one doubt with a knee injury.

Squads

COLCHESTER UNITED: Walker, Maybury, Baldwin, Reid, Tierney, Yeates, Hammond, Izzet, Perkins, Gillespie, Platt, Vernon, White, Jackson, Wordsworth, Coyne, Heath, Gerken.

TRANMERE ROVERS: Coyne, Shotton, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Shuker, Jennings, Kay, Sonko, Moore, Savage, Edds, Cresswell, Barnett, Henry, Antwi, Achterberg.