‘Everyone is full of confidence’ – Prosser

Luke PrHeads you win: Luke Prosser gets in a far post header at Stevenage. Picture: PAGEPIX (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

Club captain, Luke Prosser, has played a big role in toughening up the spine of Colchester United’s side during the opening few weeks of the season.

Prosser has marshalled a solid back four, which has kept three clean-sheets in the first four League Two fixtures of the season, while new recruits Harry Pell and Frank Nouble have added a big presence ahead of Prosser, in the centre of the park and up top respectively.

The super-confident U’s, on the back of Tuesday night’s sensational 6-0 demolition of Crewe Alexandra, are now gunning for more glory at home to Northampton Town tomorrow.

Prosser has warned against complacency, but he has strong faith in the team’s abilities this season.

“The mood in the camp is good, obviously,” enthused Prosser.

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“Everyone is full confidence, but Tuesday night is all done now.

“Straight after the game on Tuesday, we said in the dressing room – ‘It was great to score six goals, but we have to move on quickly.’

“We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground, and we are all geared up for the next game.

“Northampton have not got off to the best of starts to the season, but they have some good players and have some big threats, so we will have to be on our guard,” added Prosser.

As regards the physical strength and power in the squad, Prosser said: “The spine of the team is very good.

“Pelly (Harry Pell) has done really well, coming straight into the side as has Noubs (Frank Nouble).

“We also have good strength in depth, which is something we have not had so much, in past years.

“We have all got to turn up on a Saturday and play well, if we want to keep the shirt.

“I’m happy with my own performance. I’ve been going all right, and we’ve done well as a team to keep three clean-sheets from our first four league games.

“I was just itching to get back playing again, after missing so many games the previous two years, and I was raring to go at the start of the season.

“I think we have a good balance in the side, an a good balance to the back four.

“Me and Frankie (Kent) have had a good partnership going in the last few matches,” added Prosser.

The 30-year-old defender actually has happy memories of a fruitful loan spell at Northampton, during the first half of 2016.

Out-of-favour at Southend United, Prosser moved on loan to Sixfields in late January and helped the Cobblers to win the League Two title, making six league appearances along the way.

“I enjoyed my time at Northampton,” recalled Prosser.

“I had a good six months there, and it was just a relief to get away from Southend! It’s just what I needed.

“It was what it’s like here now. The dressing room was good, the squad was strong, with Chris Wilder in charge, although it’s been all change there recently.

“It was a happy time and we ended up winning promotion.

“The club was buzzing at the time, and I ended up with a medal around my neck!”

Relegated from League One at the end of last season, Northampton have struggled to get going in the new lower division, and are still in fact waiting to chalk up their first league win.

To date, Dean Austin’s men have taken just two points from their first four matches, losing their opening day match (1-0 at home to Lincoln) and slumping to a 1-0 defeat at previously point-less Morecambe in midweek.

They drew their first away game, 2-2 at Carlisle United, and picked up a point in a 2-2 at home to Cambridge last weekend.

The U’s, therefore, will start as warm favourites tomorrow.