ATTACK is often the best form of defence.

ATTACK is often the best form of defence.

This may not be a much-used phrase amongst the goalkeeping fraternity, but Colchester United custodian Ben Williams is adamant that the U’s more attacking style has cured their away-day blues.

Williams is relishing today’s clash against his old club Carlisle United, targeting a shut-out against his former team-mates.

He was beaten four times on his previous visit to Brunton Park, in a 4-1 defeat last April, but those were the days when John Ward’s men were easy pushovers on the road.

The U’s only won one of their last 16 away games of 2010-11, a dismal record, but they have only lost three of their nine away league fixtures so far this term. They also thumped Crewe 4-1 in their last away outing in the FA Cup.

“We have addressed our away form from the last couple of seasons, particularly last season,” insisted Williams.

“We have defended better and looked a lot more solid.

“People have stuck to their jobs well, and that has allowed the team to play a little more freely and to score some goals.

“A lot of teams will go away from home and just sit back, and maybe there was an element of being a little over-cautious last season, because of the bad run we were having away from home.

“We were in a rut, which made us more wary going into the next game.

“But we’ve played more open this year, and scored more goals,” added Williams.

The fact the U’s are down in 14th spot, three points adrift of today’s hosts Carlisle, can be explained by a poor home record, when compared to recent seasons.

Williams conceded five goals last weekend, in the U’s 5-1 defeat to visiting MK Dons, even though he hardly had a save to make, and couldn’t be faulted for any of the goals.

“MK Dons only had five or six shots on target,” rued Williams.

“They were fairly clinical with their chances, but I think we were a little na�ve.”

Williams made 36 appearances for Carlisle in 2008-09, before then-U’s boss Paul Lambert brought him to the Weston Homes Community Stadium in a �60,000 deal.

The 29-year-old, who is set to chalk up his 98th senior appearance for the U’s this afternoon, is in the last of his three-year deal.

The U’s will welcome back central defender Magnus Okuonghae, after a one-match suspension, while striker Steven Gillespie might be risked on the bench ater a month’s absence with a sore hamstring.