COLCHESTER United face a daunting trip to Championship promotion favourites Sheffield United. But it will be a chance for the U's to gain revenge, following their 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane in the fifth round of the same competition two years ago.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United face a daunting trip to Championship promotion favourites Sheffield United. But it will be a chance for the U's to gain revenge, following their 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane in the fifth round of the same competition two years ago.

Front-runner Paul Peschisolido netted the only goal that day, which denied the U's a passage through to the quarter-finals.

U's boss Phil Parkinson said last night: “It's a very difficult tie for us. The draw could have been better, but then it could have been worse.

“Sheffield United look to be a better team than when we played them two years ago. They are pushing for promotion. But we are on a good run at the moment, and if we can maintain that, then we have a chance of forcing a positive result.

“We were unlucky to lose 1-0 up there the last time, conceding a goal from a set piece. We had a very good team that year, though I felt that our two long cup runs really took it out of the players. We had 61 matches that season.

“It's a game for us to look forward to,” added Parkinson. The U's had a travelling party of 3,000 fans at Bramall Lane two years ago, and they will be hoping for similar support this time around.

Norwich City entertain West Ham, while Histon will play host to Middlesbrough if they defeat Nuneaton in a replay.