COLCHESTER United striker Kevin Lisbie is desperate to score again after suffering some bad luck in front of goal in recent weeks.Summer signing Lisbie netted with three pinpoint headers in a row against Preston, Burnley and Charlton, but he has failed to hit the target in the last four games.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United striker Kevin Lisbie is desperate to score again after suffering some bad luck in front of goal in recent weeks.

Summer signing Lisbie netted with three pinpoint headers in a row against Preston, Burnley and Charlton, but he has failed to hit the target in the last four games.

The ex-Charlton front-runner did everything bar score in Wednesday night's 4-2 victory over basement dwellers QPR. He hit a post, which led to Clive Platt heading home the fourth, and also had a goal ruled out for offside.

He hopes that his luck takes a turn for the better at Stoke City this afternoon, although he is fully aware of the Potters' defensive strengths.

“Stoke are a well organised side, and we will have to work hard to score,” admitted Lisbie during yesterday's trip to the Potteries.

“They are a big, physical side, and they have some strong defenders, but we will be playing to our strengths. We'll be looking to get the ball down and play with pace.

“I can't believe that I didn't score against QPR. It just didn't happen for me on the night, but the main thing was that we won the game. I don't mind not scoring if the team wins.

“I know that QPR's defence wasn't the best, but I thought that Clive (Platt) and I played really well together. It's the most effective that we've been together this season, and we'll be hoping to build on that.

“I'm glad that I scored those three goals early doors this season to take the pressure off me. But I've since gone four games without a goal, and it's time for me to score again,” insisted Lisbie.

Lisbie and Platt are set to resume their partnership up front at the Britannia Stadium today, because Teddy Sheringham is likely to miss his fifth game on the trot with a hamstring injury.

Midfielder Kevin Watson is again a non-starter due to a calf problem, while left-winger Kevin McLeod is struggling to overcome a flu bug.

The U's lost 3-1 at Stoke on the penultimate weekend of last season. That defeat effectively killed off their slim hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs.

Of course Lisbie was still at Charlton at the time, but his career has taken off again at Colchester.

He continued: “I know about last season's defeat, but the team is completely different now. And I'd like to think that we are better equipped to get a result at a tough place like Stoke.

“We have played well on the road this season. We are unbeaten in four (league) games, and we are always capable of picking up points away from home.

“But it was very important to get that first home win of the season. That was crucial. We need to win our home games, and I guess the crowd would have started getting on our backs if we hadn't beaten QPR.

“I know quite a bit about Stoke, especially their front pairing of Ricardo Fuller (a fellow Jamaican international) and Mamady Sidibe. They are two big powerful lads, and I reckon that we'd be happy with a point from this game. However, we'll be going for the win,” added Lisbie.

Hackney-born Lisbie celebrates his 29th birthday later this month, and he's not far off celebrating the 200th league game of his career. Today will be his 188th league appearance, so injuries and loss of form aside, he should pass the 200-mark around the Christmas period.

By then, he will hope to be well on the way towards double figures for goals scored - with any luck!

Today's squads

STOKE CITY: Simonsen, Wright, De Laet, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Lawrence, Eustace, Matteo, Cresswell, Sidibe, Fuller, Parkin, Dickinson, Sweeney, Pericard, Delap and Hoult.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin, Virgo, Elokobi, Yeates, Izzet, Jackson, Granville, Platt, Lisbie, Guy, Guttridge, Connolly, Elito, White, Balogh, Sheringham, Cousins and Davison.