COLCHESTER United skipper Karl Duguid has warned against becoming over-complacent during the final quarter of this season.The U's already appear to be safe in the Championship, after accumulating 51 points from their first 34 fixtures.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United skipper Karl Duguid has warned against becoming over-complacent during the final quarter of this season.

The U's already appear to be safe in the Championship, after accumulating 51 points from their first 34 fixtures.

But they will want to stop a slide that has seen them lose their last couple of matches, to West Brom (2-1) and at Plymouth (3-0).

Out-of-sorts Burnley are tomorrow's visitors to Layer Road, and Duguid is confident that the U's can regain their winning touch on home soil.

“We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. If we do that, then there is a danger that we could go the rest of the season without winning another match,” insisted Duguid last night.

“We've had a great season, and I've really enjoyed it, but we need to keep pushing on. We don't want to end up losing most games from now until the end of the season, because that won't put us in the best heart for next season.

“And although we've lost a couple of games, we are still only five points adrift of the play-offs,” added Duguid.

Winger Duguid was one of three U's stalwarts to sign new contracts over the last month. The others were keeper Aidan Davison and defender Pat Baldwin.

Davison and Baldwin were both unused substitutes at Plymouth, but Duguid experienced first-hand the disappointment of losing and producing a below-par performance on the Devon coast.

“We are all very disappointed with what happened at Plymouth, and how it went for the whole 90 minutes. Like all teams in this division, Plymouth have a number of excellent players, but we didn't do the right things.

“Fortunately, we have a quick chance to put it right against Burnley. Our home form has been great this season, and we are always confident at home. It's a chance for us to bounce back.

“Throughout the season there will be times when you don't play that well. It happens from time to time, like at Leeds (3-0 defeat on November 11). But we recovered from that disappointment, and we will do again,” added Duguid.

Tomorrow will be Duguid's 389th senior appearance for the U's. The club's longest-serving player therefore has a chance to reach the 400 mark before the end of this season.

In fact, if he can avoid injuries, suspensions and a loss of form, then the 28-year-old will celebrate his 400th game on the final day of the season, at home to Crystal Palace.