CAN Colchester continue to haunt former manager Phil Parkinson tonight?

After masterminding Colchester’s promotion to the Championship in 2005/6, Parkinson quickly went from hero to villain by joining rivals Hull City that very summer.

Since that fateful day he has come up against the U’s on four occasions – and is yet to taste victory.

A satisfying 5-1 win for the Essex side in November 2006 effectively ended Parkinson’s short stay at the Tigers, while the 42-year-old was again left frustrated by his former club the following campaign.

Assistant manager to Alan Pardew at the time, Parkinson’s Charlton scraped a 2-2 draw at Layer Road before losing 2-1 on home turf.

Parkinson was handed the full-time job at the South London club at the start of 2008, but he could do nothing to prevent the Addicks being relegated to League One last season.

That set up a return to Colchester – this time at their new Weston Homes Community Stadium – and again Parkinson went away empty handed as Aidy Boothroyd’s side ran out comfortable 3-0 victors last September.

Charlton head into tonight’s game at The Valley in mixed form. The fifth-place side may have ground out single goal victories over Brighton, Southend, MK Dons and Carlisle in recent weeks, but they have struggled against tougher opposition.

Defeats to Millwall (4-0 away), Brighton (2-1 home) and Bristol Rovers (2-1 away) have broken up the aforementioned wins, while the Addicks lost 1-0 at Southampton on Saturday.

Charlton welcomed back skipper Nicky Bailey following an ankle injury at the weekend, but continue to be without first choice keeper Rob Elliot (groin) and top scorer Deon Burton (knee).