COLCHESTER United midfielder Johnnie Jackson is adamant that the U's will show a “different attitude,” against visiting QPR tomorrow, in response to their lack-lustre 1-0 defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe on Saturday.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United midfielder Johnnie Jackson is adamant that the U's will show a “different attitude,” against visiting QPR tomorrow, in response to their lack-lustre 1-0 defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Manager Geraint Williams felt that his side lacked self-belief, and were not positive enough after falling behind to Paul Hayes' match-winner against Iron. The U's have slipped to 18th in the Championship table.

Tomorrow evening they entertain struggling QPR, who are three points adrift at the bottom. John Gregory's men slumped to a 5-1 defeat at West Brom on Sunday which resulted in his dismissal yesterday.

And Jackson is looking to inflict another defeat on Rangers, while at the same time chalking up the U's first home victory of the campaign.

“We didn't play well against Scunthorpe, but we have a quick chance to put it right against QPR,” insisted Jackson.

“I think that we will learn our lesson from the weekend. You will see a different attitude from us against QPR. We know that we can do better.

“We have been unlucky in some games this season, but against Scunthorpe we just didn't play well. We were not at it. I don't know why, though I suppose we didn't take our chances.

“You get punished for not taking your chances at this level. I'm as guilty as anyone, because although I had a couple of shots well blocked by defenders, I should have done better with another couple. I put one over the bar in the first-half from a good position, and in the second-half I shot straight at the keeper (Joe Murphy),” added Jackson.

The U's missed the formidable presence of Teddy Sheringham against Scunthorpe. They coped well without the wily striker in the away draws at Southampton and Blackpool, but they were crying out for his creativity and ability to unlock the defence on home territory.

Sheringham has been battling against a tweaked hamstring that has kept him out of training for the last fortnight. He must be considered a big doubt for tomorrow as well.

Jackson, though, is not too worried about the style of performance against QPR, so long as the U's can record a much-needed victory.

“We'll take a win any which way it comes,” admitted former Tottenham man Jackson.

“I don't mind if we score from an own goal. We have drawn too many matches already this season, when we have done well enough to win them. Against Scunthorpe we didn't play well and we got nothing out of the game.

“I think that people are expecting a lot more from us this season, and we're finding it hard to match those expectations at the moment,

“Scunthorpe reminded me a little of ourselves last season. They are in the same situation as us last year, having come up from League One. They are a good side and their defending was good against us. We need to improve,” added Jackson.