COLCHESTER United's stand-in skipper, Johnnie Jackson, does not have many happy memories of the FA Cup.That's why Jackson will be hoping to inspire the U's to victory at the expense of visiting Peterborough United in a third round tie at Layer Road this afternoon.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United's stand-in skipper, Johnnie Jackson, does not have many happy memories of the FA Cup.

That's why Jackson will be hoping to inspire the U's to victory at the expense of visiting Peterborough United in a third round tie at Layer Road this afternoon.

In particular, he remembers one fateful cup tie during his time at Tottenham, when the Londoners threw away a three-goal lead.

"I haven't played many cup games in my career so far, and I haven't had much success in them either," admitted Jackson last night.

"There was one famous occasion for Spurs, when we were three-up and coasting against Manchester City, only to end up losing 4-3! That's not a great memory!"

The 25-year-old was referring to an FA Cup fourth round tie at White Hart Lane on February 4, 2004. Spurs were 3-0 up at half-time, thanks to goals from Ledley King, Robbie Keane and Christian Ziege, and City were also reduced to 10 men due to Joey Barton's second yellow card.

Jackson appeared as a substitute on the hour mark, but it was to prove an unhappy night. Sylvain Distin, Paul Bosvelt, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jonathan Macken turned the game on its head to secure a dramatic

4-3 win for City, who went on to play Manchester United in the fifth round.

Four years on and Jackson is very much a regular feature of Colchester's midfield, either in the centre or on the left.

The U's have endured a tough first half to their second season in the Championship, but they will at least start as favourites today.

They are fresh from a surprise 2-1 win at Charlton on New Year's Day, a result that propelled them off the foot of the Championship table.

It was only their fifth win of the season, and Geraint Williams' men will be gunning for back-to-back victories for the first time this campaign against their League Two visitors.

Jackson led the side to victory at The Valley, due to skipper Karl Duguid's absence with flu. It is a role he relishes.

"I look on it as a great honour to be made captain. Karl (Duguid) always does a fantastic job, but when he's not in the side, I'm happy to take on the responsibility," continued Jackson.

"If anything, I think it adds something to my game. I'd never been captain of a team before.

"We were big underdogs at Charlton, which is why to win there was a timely reminder of what we're capable of achieving. We were right on the ball from the first whistle, while in previous matches we have often started too slowly and fallen behind.

"We now want to keep the ball rolling. We need to get our home form going, because that's what made us so successful last season.

"We need to take the game to Peterborough, which is what we managed at Charlton. I know that we're the favourites this weekend, but we know that Peterborough are a decent side," added Jackson.

Midfielder Kevin Watson (calf strain) and keeper Aidan Davison (sore shoulder) will again miss out, although Duguid returns to the squad after his bout of ill health. Williams will therefore make a choice between Duguid and John White at right-back.

Kevin Lisbie, who scored both goals against his old club Charlton, is nursing a sore calf, although he hopes to be fit. Williams always has the option of starting with Teddy Sheringham instead.

Squads

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

PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Tyler, Newton, Morgan, Charnock, Hughes, Whelpdale, Lee, Hyde, Boyd, Mclean, Mackail-Smith, Gnakpa, Strachen, Keates, Low, Jalal.