Coyne believes U's are play-off hopefuls

Carl Marston

Essex edition back page

By Carl Marston

DESPITE Colchester United's current plight in the relegation zone, club skipper Chris Coyne still believes that the U's are serious play-off contenders.

The U's face a key fixture at home to fellow strugglers Yeovil Town tonight, and Coyne is looking to win “ugly” to kick-start the Essex club's climb up the League One table.

Coyne was not involved in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Peterborough, after picking up a dead leg while playing for Australia in last week's World Cup Qualifier in Bahrain. But he should return to the squad this evening.

“Before the start of the season, we thought that we had a hell of a chance of finishing in one of the two automatic promotion places, let alone the play-offs,” insisted Coyne last night.

“We have had to change the goal-posts now, but I'm still looking at us having a chance of making the play-offs. We know that we have to go on a run, but it's a weird one because we shouldn't be down there.

“It's time to take a look at ourselves. The table does not lie, but we don't feel that we should be in this position (fourth from bottom).

“It's frustrating, but now is the time to mount a charge up the table, before the games start running out.

“I couldn't play at Peterborough, because I couldn't even bend my leg after picking up a dead leg in Bahrain. But I rested over the weekend, and I was back in training with the lads today, along with Paul Reid, who is also back after injury.

“The bruising has come out and the leg is feeling fine. I'm ready and waiting, if selected. I'm champing at the bit.

“We thought that we had turned the tide after beating Carlisle 5-0, but that hasn't been the case. I don't mind if we start winning ugly, like Walsall did to us in the previous home game,” added Coyne.

The U's have a miserable record at their new ground, with just one win in nine home games. But they will leapfrog Yeovil if they can beat the Somerset visitors this evening.