HEREFORD United boss John Trewick believes his side have got 'more than an even chance' of causing an FA Cup upset against Colchester today.The Bulls' relegation to League Two was confirmed with a home defeat against Colchester back in April and, since then, Trewick has gone about rebuilding his squad.

Stuart Watson

HEREFORD United boss John Trewick believes his side have got 'more than an even chance' of causing an FA Cup upset against Colchester today.

The Bulls' relegation to League Two was confirmed with a home defeat against Colchester back in April and, since then, Trewick has gone about rebuilding his squad.

The new-look Hereford team struggled to gel at the start of the campaign but have found form in recent weeks. They have lost just one of their last six matches altogether just one of their last 11 home games.

In addition, the club have brought in youngsters Nathanial Wedderburn and Jordan Mutch from Premier League clubs Stoke and Birmingham respectively in emergency loan deadline day signings on Thursday.

They both go into the home side's squad for today's second round tie at Edgar Street - a place the U's had failed to win at in nine attempts prior to last season.

“We go into the game in a good frame of mind,” said Trewick, following Tuesday's 2-1 home win over Shrewsbury Town.

“I have no doubt they will be a decent side. They are well organised and will expect to come here and win, of course they will.

“But we have done quite well at home recently though and I think we have got more than an even chance of going through to the next round.”

Colchester have a poor record against Hereford in recent years as, prior to their win at Edgar Street in April, the Essex club had failed to win there in nine attempts.

The U's were knocked out of the FA Cup by them on a penalty shoot-out following two 1-1 draws in 1997/98, while they suffered an infamous 'nightmare on Edgar Street' in 1993/94 when a dramatic match saw manager Roy McDonough end up in goal after both his keepers were dismissed for professional fouls. The U's lost that game 5-0, with Chris Pike's hat-trick coming against three different keepers.

Current Colchester manager Aidy Boothroyd knows his side will be given a sterner test this afternoon than there were given at non-league side Bromley in the previous round.

He said: “They've changed their system a few times - they've played 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 5-3-2 - and we know it will be a difficult test.

“We have to make sure we are prepared and professional as we were at Bromley because we want to be in that next round.

“If we don't do what our reputation suggests right from the off then it will give them a foothold in the game. We have got to show them that we are not there to be somebody else's scalp.

“Their adrenaline and testosterone will be up, so we have got to make sure we get their home fans to turn on them.”

Left-back Marc Tierney is available again today after serving his one-game suspension in midweek, while Kemi Izzet will be in contention for a return to the starting line-up following his recovery from a virus.

- Follow the EADT's Colchester United reporter online for live match reaction this afternoon. Simply go to www.twitter.com and search for Stuart_Watson.

Hereford: Bartlett, Adamson, Green, Jones, Blanchett, Lowe, Valentine, Dennehy, Wedderburn, Mutch, Lunt, Gwynne, Done, Sonko, Pugh, King, Constantine, McCallum.

Colchester: Williams, Cousins, White, Tierney, Okuongahe, Reid, Ifil, Heath, Lisbie, Hackney, Wordsworth, Fox, O'Toole, Izzet, Odejayi, Platt, Gillespie, Thomas.