SOUTHAMPTON skipper Dean Hammond hopes he can finally get one over his old team tomorrow.

The 27-year-old midfielder has played former club Colchester three times since signing for the Saints in August 2009 but is yet to be on the winning side – the Essex club twice drawing 0-0 at St Mary’s and winning 2-1 at home.

“It does make it a little bit special,” said Hammond, who made 56 appearances for the U’s over two and bit seasons.

“It makes me more determined to win because you always like to get one over on your old team.

“I think I’ve played them three times since I’ve been at Southampton and we haven’t beat them yet. We drawn twice and lost once, so it would be nice for myself and obviously for the club as well if we could win this time.

“I got a bit of stick last time, but that’s part and parcel of it. I enjoyed my time there and the fans were always good to me.

“They’re a nice friendly club, a really good club and it should be a decent atmosphere there I think.

“I know quite a few of the boys there and still have some good friends at the club, but the most important things for us is the three points.”

Pre-season title favourites Southampton are currently in fifth-place and just four points above the U’s. The Saints suffered a shock 1-0 loss at Walsall on Tuesday night, while Colchester were 1-0 victors at Bristol Rovers.

“It will be a difficult game as Colchester are a decent team and it’s a hard place to go,” said Hammond.

“Obviously it was disappointing and frustrating on Tuesday night and we want to take it out on them.

“It was not easy to get over and the boys were disappointed in the changing room afterwards. We thought that we deserved to win the game so we can take that out of it and put it into Saturday.”

– Full match preview in tomorrow’s EADT.