U's boss plotting to stop striker Lisbie

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams is plotting how to stop his ex-striker Kevin Lisbie from scoring for Ipswich in tonight's Carling Cup second round tie.

Lisbie's encouraging start to the new season at Town has not gone unnoticed in the U's camp. Despite two defeats in four matches, the ex-Charlton man has netted a couple of goals.

Williams said: “Kevin has had a fantastic start to his Ipswich career. We knew that would be the case.

“Hopefully, we have a few ways of stopping him against us. But I mustn't say too much, because it might backfire!

“After beating Swindon (3-1), we can now all look forward to the Ipswich game. On the back of those three points, we have been able to rest up and recover.

“This local derby means so much to the fans. We're level in league matches after those two seasons in the Championship. We both won our two home matches, and I believe we even scored the same number of goals.

“We are confident of giving anyone a good game, as we showed when drawing 2-2 at Norwich in pre-season. It's good to have these two local derbies so quickly after our relegation.

“It's a shame that we were not drawn at home, because I'm sure the visit of Ipswich would have packed out the Community Stadium. But we are at Portman Road, and Ipswich will be tough to beat there,” added Williams.

The U's, who beat Gillingham 1-0 in the first round, could be without both club record signing Steven Gillespie and midfielder Kem Izzet for tonight's clash.

Gillespie missed the trip to Swindon with a thigh problem, and did not train last week, so he is unlikely to start. The former Cheltenham front-runner had scored a brace on his U's debut in the opening day 4-2 defeat at Hartlepool.

Izzet, meanwhile, was substituted after 79 minutes at the County Ground, and is considered doubtful, especially as the U's have a big game at home to league leaders Oldham next Saturday.

Williams revealed: “Kem's thigh cramped up and also began to swell up. The problem wouldn't go away, so he had to come off. We left Steven (Gillespie) at home for the weekend, so that he could have some treatment at home.”

On the plus side, midfielder David Perkins is set to make his Colchester debut following his summer move from Rochdale. Perkins completed the final match of his five-game suspension at Swindon, a punishment dished out for his sending-off in Dale's League Two play-off semi-final against Darlington at the end of last season.