COLCHESTER United's experienced midfielder Kevin Watson is no stranger to promotion showdowns, but he rates Saturday's crunch fixture at Yeovil as “the most important of my career.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United's experienced midfielder Kevin Watson is no stranger to promotion showdowns, but he rates Saturday's crunch fixture at Yeovil as “the most important of my career.”

Watson will be hoping to round off a dream season by masterminding a victorious away display at Huish Park. The U's need just a draw to wrap up promotion to the Championship, and a win could even propel them to the League One title.

The 32-year-old was involved in successive promotions during his spell at Rotherham, but he cannot recall such a nail-biting finish to a campaign.

“I remember a title-decider on the final day of the season, when we (Rotherham) drew 1-1 against Swansea, which was enough to earn Swansea the championship,” said Watson.

“But we had already won promotion by then. This time it's all down to the last day. There's so much more at stake.

“We have already had a magnificent season. For the club to be in this position at this time of the season is incredible. At the start of the season, we were relegation favourites with most bookmakers!

“We have been working on the smallest budget in the division, with the smallest attendances and probably the worst ground in the division. And yet we have continued to defy the odds!” added Watson.

Former Tottenham trainee Watson has only missed three league matches all season, and he is again set to partner Neil Danns in the middle of the park at Yeovil.

One point will be enough to guarantee the second automatic promotion slot for Phil Parkinson's men, regardless of third-placed Brentford's result at Bournemouth. The U's would have to lose and the Bees win for the Layer Road club to drop into the play-offs.

Furthermore, if the U's do taste victory in Somerset, and Essex rivals Southend fail to beat Bristol City, then Colchester will go up as champions!

“We have to just treat it like any normal game, though I must confess that I just want to get it over and done with now,” insisted Watson.

“It's in our own hands and we are going there for the win. It's a very, very important game.

“It would be the perfect season for me if we could get promoted, and Rotherham stayed up. Reading, another of my old clubs, have already been promoted to the Premiership, and I hope that Rotherham can beat MK Dons and so stay in this division.

“But the main thing is for us to win promotion at Yeovil,” concluded Watson.

carl.marston@eadt.co.uk