COLCHESTER United boss John Ward believes the U’s home clash with MK Dons on Saturday could be one for the football purist.

COLCHESTER United boss John Ward believes the U’s home clash with MK Dons tomorrow could be one for the football purist.

Karl Robinson’s exciting Dons side currently sit fourth in League One while United, with only one defeat in their last seven, are seven points worse off in 11th.

The two teams hit 10 goals between them, albeit against lower-league opposition, in the FA Cup last weekend but Ward believes the two outfits are setup to create chances and has predicted a cracker at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“There should be no one at a loose end in Colchester or Essex at the weekend and there is a great game in prospect,” said Ward.

“Both sides like to play positive football and I think both would admit that they are better going forward than defensively.

“We scored four at Crewe last weekend and that is the fourth time we have done that this season so it is no coincidence.

“We will have top be pretty special to do the same against a good side like MK Dons but these are the games we want to be testing ourselves in and we are looking to get a wee bit closer to teams like them.”

Ward, who is one of the Football League elder statesmen in managerial terms comes up against a man very much at the start of his career.

Robinson, 31, is developing a reputation as one of the brightest young managers in the game but Colchester boss Ward thinks an equal amount of credit should go to Dons’ assistant manager, fellow veteran John Gorman.

“The average age of the last 20 managers appointed in the Football League is 42 and there is a lot of talented people coming through,” said Ward.

“But I think Karl would be the first to say his best signing has been John Gorman. He does not get flustered and keeps everything in perspective.”