Colchester United v Palace

Layer Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Shaun Derry

Story so far

Second season syndrome appears to have taken full effect at Layer road.

An impressive start for their return to the Championship saw the Essex side finish just six points outside of the playoffs. This season, however, sees the U's languishing just two points from the relegation zone.

However, the squad which guided Colchester to the Championship and to the top half of the table has been ripped to pieces and been replaced, so a season of change and disappointment was to be expected.

One thing that hasn't changed is the U's ability to score goals. The new front men have already notched up a total of 13 goals between the three of them whilst Mark Yeates has hit 7 goals from midfield.

Only three teams have scored more goals than Colchester - two of those are sitting in the automatic promotion spots whilst the third is sitting in the final playoff position.

On a similar note, only one team has conceded more goals than Colchester, so we can see where the problem lies.

Will Palace be able to take advantage of their weak back-line or will our crop of misfits upfront continue to fire blanks?

Team news

Shaun Derry is set to make his Palace debut second time around after completing his loan switch from Leeds United this week.

He will replace skipper Carl Fletcher who suffered a calf injury while on international duty with Wales.

"I am very disappointed in John Toshack because Carl went with an injury but still played the whole game," said Eagles boss Neil Warnock. "To play him for 90 minutes when there is nothing at stake I think is out of order."

Left-back Tony Craig is sidelined for up to three weeks after undergoing surgery on a shoulder problem. Danny Butterfield is available for selection after coming through a midweek reserve game with no reaction to his hamstring strain.

Tom Soares, CLINTON MORRISON and Paul Ifill have shaken off injuries, but Paul Dickov is likely to miss out due to a toe complaint.

Colchester's veteran striker Teddy Sheringham is available again after serving a three-match ban. Aidan Davison has overcome a shoulder injury but may not be fit in time to start.

Colchester United - league stats

Full league table

Colchester United - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Colchester United

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
06/05/2007	League	Colchester United	0 - 2	Crystal Palace
09/12/2006	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 3	Colchester United
24/08/1999	League Cup	Crystal Palace	3 - 1	Colchester United
10/08/1999	League Cup	Colchester United	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
10/01/1976	League	Colchester United	0 - 3	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Mark Yeates

Mark Yeates is an impressive winger who joined from Spurs at the beginning of the season.

Yeates, having previously been loaned out to Colchester, knocked in 5 goals during their promotion season and has already hit an impressive 7 goals in 16 games.

Yeates began his career as a Spurs trainee but was unable to force himself into the side. He has been farmed out on loan for the majority of his professional career and was unlikely to get in ahead of Routledge or Lennon in the pecking order for the right flank.

Yeates can either play as a right winger or striker. He has a fantastic eye for goal, pace and even out wide, has the awareness to bring others into the game.

Ref watch

P Taylor

Last meeting

Colchester United 0-2 Palace

Sunday May 06 2007

Colchester United: Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin (White, 46), Brown, Elokobi (McLeod, 67), Garcia, Watson, Izzet, Ephraim, Cureton, Iwelumo

Subs not used: Davison, Guy, Wordsworth

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale, McAnuff, Watson, Fletcher (Soares, 30), Kennedy, Morrison (Ifill, 66 ), Scowcroft

Subs not used: Flinders, Kuqi, Butterfield

Bookings: Watson

Goals: Scowcroft 11, Watson 69

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