COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams won't even mention them, but his team are indeed in a race for the play-offs.Stoke's win at West Brom pushed the U's back to 10th spot in the Championship on Saturday, following United's 3-0 success in the Essex derby at Southend on Good Friday.

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams won't even mention them, but his team are indeed in a race for the play-offs.

Stoke's win at West Brom pushed the U's back to 10th spot in the Championship on Saturday, following United's 3-0 success in the Essex derby at Southend on Good Friday.

But the defeat of Wolves at Sunderland has kept the U's within four points of the top six, with five matches remaining. It's a long shot, but the Essex club are definitely in the promotion shake-up.

They play two teams haunted by relegation this week, beginning with the eagerly-awaited visit of Leeds United this afternoon (kick-off 3pm). They travel to Hull City on Saturday.

“I know we have an outside chance of the play-offs, but we'll be happy wherever we finish. It's been a great season,” enthused hat-trick hero Jamie Cureton.

“Leeds are fighting for survival, but we're not bothered about them, and the possibility of helping to send them down.”

A sell-out crowd will relish this afternoon's clash with fourth-from-bottom Leeds. It will be the Elland Road club's first visit to Layer Road since they were humbled by a 3-2 defeat in an FA Cup fifth round tie on February 13, 1971.

Leeds were top of the old Division One at the time. Now they are fighting against relegation, but they are unbeaten in their last five matches.