KEEPING it simple. That has been the mainstay of Kem Izzet's game-plan over the last few weeks, and it's worked a treat.

Carl Marston

KEEPING it simple. That has been the mainstay of Kem Izzet's game-plan over the last few weeks, and it's worked a treat.

Midfield dynamo Izzet, the U's longest serving player, has formed an effective partnership with skipper Dean Hammond in the middle of the park.

The duo have gelled well together, and provided the platform for flair player Mark Yeates to practise his skills on the wing. It is a style of play that is set to continue at Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

Izzet is confident that the U's can extend their marvellous recent run, which has included just one defeat in the last eight league matches. United have also taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four games on the road.

And the 28-year-old former Charlton trainee would love to end his goal drought in the process!

“I'm playing well and the manager's style of play suits my own. It is very high tempo, and very physical, which is what I enjoy. It's back to basics, keeping it simple,” revealed Izzet.

“But I would like to score a few more goals, that's for sure. It's very frustrating, because scoring goals is a big part of my game. The ball just hasn't been falling to me at the moment.

“People have been saying that Dean (Hammond) and I have been playing well in midfield, and that's nice. The manager thinks that as well.

“I'm glad to be playing regularly in the side again. Dean and I have been asked to do a lot of the fetching and carrying.

“It's my job to give the ball to the creative players. We try to keep it simple, and leave the glory to the likes of Yeatesy (Mark Yeates) and Gilly (Steven Gillespie),” added Izzet, who has scored just one this season.

The U's are currently lying in 11th spot, nine points adrift of the play-offs. That's still a big deficit, but Paul Lambert's men have time on their hands - after today, there are still 20 games remaining.

And with the exception of Johnnie Jackson, who injured a ligament in his chest during the first half of last weekend's 3-1 win over Cheltenham, the U's also have a clean bill of health.

Left-back Marc Tierney has recovered from a tweaked hamstring and so should replace Jackson in the starting line-up.

Izzet continued: “Confidence is good; the performances and the results have also been good. We're all buzzing.

“I don't think the atmosphere has changed too much at the club, because the lads have always been lively and full of confidence. The change has only been on the pitch.

“You always enjoy it when you're winning, and we want to keep feeling the way we are. We have got up a head of steam, and there are a lot of points still to play for (63).

“Picking up good results away from home has been the most joyous part of this season. We have had some decent results on the road, but that doesn't take the pressure off us at home, because we need to be winning at home to get further up the league,” added Izzet.

Squads

BRISTOL ROVERS: Phillips, R Green, Hinton, Elliott, Lescott, Lines, Campbell, Disney, Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour, Duffy, Jacobsen, Pipe, Langley, Hunt, M Green, Anthony.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Walker, Maybury, Baldwin, Reid, Tierney, Yeates, Izzet, Hammond, Perkins, Platt, Gillespie, Vernon, Gobern, White, Wordsworth, Heath, Cousins.