COLCHESTER United midfielder Kem Izzet believes that the secret to the team's success this season will be forged on their travels, not at home.The U's boasted a terrific home record last season.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United midfielder Kem Izzet believes that the secret to the team's success this season will be forged on their travels, not at home.

The U's boasted a terrific home record last season. Only Birmingham City had a better home record than the U's, which formed the basis of their fantastic first campaign as a Championship club.

However, Izzet is not convinced that United will enjoy quite the same success at Layer Road over the coming months, which is why he is focusing on an improvement in a poor away record, beginning at promotion candidates Sheffield United on Saturday.

“I think that our away form has to be better than our home form this season, I really believe that,” insisted Izzet.

“Teams will give us more respect at Layer Road. They won't be so open at the back, so they might be difficult to break down. They know what to expect now, in our second season. But we want to be more positive away from home, and make it more of a home game for us. We must learn from our experiences of last season.”

Izzet continued: “Success for us would be just staying in this division for another season. We will all be pulling together to achieve that aim.

“However, we won't be happy with just avoiding relegation. Finishing fourth from bottom would be acceptable, but we want to aim higher. We exceeded all expectations to finish 10th last season. It wasn't down to luck. We were there on merit. It will be very difficult to improve on that, and it's important that our fans do not get too carried away. There have been a lot of comings and goings this summer. Several of the squad from last year have decided to move on.

“The club has been a bit of a stepping stone in the past, a place to move on from, and I suppose that's still the case. But you just have to wish all the best to those who have left, and get on with it.

“The new lads that have come in are gelling. We've had one good night out, and I'm sure there will be more to come,” added Izzet.

Midfielder Kevin Watson will miss the start of the season, due to a sore Achilles tendon, but Izzet is not taking it for granted that he will definitely start at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

Izzet said: “There are three fit central midfielders in me, Luke Guttridge and Johnnie Jackson. Competition is very strong. The club needs that to be the case.”

Meanwhile, a U's second string went down 3-1 at Billericay in Tuesday night's friendly. First year professional Anthony Wordsworth was on target for the visitors.