COLCHESTER United marksman Clive Platt, who faces his old club MK Dons this afternoon, is not worried by the U's current position in the relegation zone.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United marksman Clive Platt, who faces his old club MK Dons this afternoon, is not worried by the U's current position in the relegation zone.

United have won just one of their first five league games of the season, and are still waiting to chalk up their first victory at their new Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Platt hopes to clinch that historic first home win over his old club, to kick-fire the U's climb up the League One table.

“No one is looking at the table at the moment, the gaffer included,” insisted Platt.

“The current table has no justification for how things will end up at the end of the season. It's too early for that.

“We have been unlucky not to win at home yet, especially against Oldham (2-2 draw) in our last home outing. We were disappointed with that result, because we were two-up.

“However, we would take many positives out of that game, because Oldham were top of the league and we had outplayed them.”

Following the opening day defeat at Hartlepool, Geraint Williams' men had begun to find their feet with a 3-1 away win at Swindon, sandwiched by home draws against Huddersfield and Oldham.

But that progress was halted at Crewe Alexandra last weekend, when the U's produced a below-par display in a 2-0 defeat, as well as having Steven Gillespie sent off for serious foul play.

Club record signing Gillespie starts the first of a three-match suspension today, which means that Platt should again partner Scott Vernon in attack against the Dons.

Platt continued: “The Crewe game was a setback. We were all disappointed with that result, and especially the second-half performance, which was bad.

“We had just started to make real progress, performance-wise and results-wise. The win at Swindon had set us on our way.

“Deano (Gerken) tried to take the blame (for the first goal) in the dressing room after the match, but it wasn't down to him. He made some excellent saves and for us to win we would have had to score anyway.

“Perhaps a few of the lads were a bit complacent, expecting to win at Crewe. Hopefully, it will act as a kick up the backside for us all. It's a warning,” added Platt.

Wolverhampton-born Platt, who began his career at Walsall, is still waiting to score his first goal of the season.

But the 30-year-old, once he breaks his duck, is sure to bag several goals at this level, as well as setting up chances for others. That was certainly the case during his successful stay at MK Dons.

“I'm still in regular contact with some of the lads at the Dons, and I had a couple of good years with them,” said Platt.

“They have a winning mentality, after winning promotion last season, but so far have been a bit up-and-down this season.

“Playing for the Dons was a stepping stone for me to get to the Championship, with Colchester, as it was for my strike-force partner, Izzy McLeod (moved to Charlton).”

Platt and McLeod were briefly reunited at Colchester, when the lightning quick McLeod moved on loan to the U's in February of this year.

However, McLeod only made a couple of short appearances as a substitute before he suffered a serious knee injury during a 4-1 defeat at Plymouth.

Platt confirmed: “It was very unfortunate for Izzy. He tore just about everything there was to tear in his knee.

“But he's well on the road to recovery, and is ahead of schedule. He should be returning to training soon, and will then play a few games for Charlton Reserves.”

Squads

COLCHESTER UNITED: Gerken, White, Reid, Heath, Ifil, Yeates, Jackson, Izzet, Wordsworth, Platt, Vernon, Perkins, Wasiu, Coyne, Hammond, Elito, Cousins.

MK DONS: Gueret, Regan, O'Hanlon, Stirling, Lewington, McDermott, Belson, Leven, Cummings, Wilbraham, Baldock. Wright, Llera, Navarro, Johnson, Sturm, Abbey.