COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams rates tomorrow's home match against Sheffield Wednesday as the U's most important of the season.Williams bemoaned his side's bad luck in terms of two dubious decisions from the officials as well as two fortuitous deflections for Palace's winner in their 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams rates tomorrow's home match against Sheffield Wednesday as the U's most important of the season.

Williams bemoaned his side's bad luck in terms of two dubious decisions from the officials as well as two fortuitous deflections for Palace's winner in their 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.

But he is already preparing for a big showdown against the Owls tomorrow evening.

“Our season hinges on this game. It is quite simply our biggest game of the season,” insisted Williams.

“We have to keep going after this latest defeat. We must move on and start winning matches.

“Three things went against us today. There was a double deflection which saw the ball roll into his (Ben Watson's) path for their winner. (James) Scowcroft was also three yards offside for their first goal, and Kevin Lisbie was level with our disallowed goal.

“The first decision from the assistant referee was diabolical, and the second decision was just wrong.

“For the lads to put in all that effort, it's so disappointing to have two major decisions go against you. No one is going to help you when you're down where we are so we have to make it happen.

“Scowcroft was three to four yards offside when he put pressure on Dean Gerken. That led to a throw-in, which led to their first goal (Phil Ifil own goal). Then Kevin (Lisbie) was level when scoring in the second-half.

“These decisions have turned the game. Palace played well, but we knew that we were going to have to defend well. They have a lot of quality up front.

“We now have a mountain to climb to stay up. We have to beat Sheffield Wednesday, and then go on a winning run,” added Williams.

Palace's second win in nine games pushed them up to ninth spot on 53 points, prompting manager Neil Warnock to say wryly: “I am going to crack open a bottle of champagne because now we are safe!

“I haven't had a glass of champagne since I've been here. They keep them locked up here, but I'm sure the chairman (Simon Jordan) will let me have a drink.

“When we were second from bottom, if you had told my chairman that we'd be three points off the play-offs now, he'd have said you were in cloud-cuckoo land,” added Warnock.