Colchester United boss, Kevin Keen, has been used to addressing just a handful of media gurus during his weekly press conferences, since he was appointed to his first senior job in management just four days before last Christmas,.

But Keen was faced with a media scrum yesterday, as his U’s side prepare for tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited FA Cup fourth round home tie against Tottenham, eight-times winners of the Cup.

The U’s boss, while failing to drag his side away from the League One basement, still has faith that his under-achieving players can produce a big shock this weekend.

“People can say what they want,” insisted Keen. “The belief is within myself, (assistant) David Wright and the players. Who says we can’t win?

“It’s 11 versus 11 on the day, so anything is possible.

“I want to win, I want to win. I know it’s really, really difficult, and the boys know its difficult, but we’re not just going to sit back and defend, because if you do that then you are going to get done at some stage.

“Obviously you have to be prepared to defend at certain stages of the game, but at the same time we want to try and attack at the right times, and cause them problems.”

Referring to the big build-up, to this weekend’s clash, Keen said: “The media have made it that little bit busier, but the training has been very much the same.

“There’s just been a few more cameras around the place, and the FA Cup turned up yesterday (on Wednesday) from somewhere.

“It’s been good for the players to get a different perspective of what you can be facing, if you are a Premier League player or a Championship player. It’s been like a little bonus week for us. Everyone is going to enjoy it, but at the same we are going to try and win the game.

“We want to beat Tottenham and get through to the next round. It’s easy for me to say that, and it’s going to be a tough task, but the boys are switched on and ready to put on a performance that hopefully credits the football club.

“To compete, we have to work very hard, play as a team, and do your very best as an individual for the team. I think I’ve got some talented players in the squad who can cause them a few problems.

“Of course they might have a few talented players who might cause us a few problems, but you stick together and you have a go.”