After a pulsating 3-3 draw at Hartlepool to start the new year Town are back at home this weekend when they entertain Colchester United at The Envirovent Stadium.
Buy TicketsThe 3-3 draw saw Town twice come from behind in the second-half to take a valuable point and Simon Weaver will be looking for all three points to put further distance between the two sides.
Our opponents
The U's come into the game with a narrow cushion to the relegation spots, having taken 20 points from 24 games so far leaving them in 21st position. The game does provide the opportunity for them to move level with Town though should they come away with all three points.
They have won two of their last three games in league action, including their first win on the road this season, with them having netted just seven times on their travels.
Earlier this season
Town fell to defeat in the first fixture between the two sides earlier this season. First half goals from Kwesi Appiah and Frank Nouble put the U's two goals to the good at the break and despite Alex Pattison's second-half strike it was not enough to prevent a 2-1 loss.
The man in charge
Matt Bloomfield was appointed to replace Wayne Brown at the end of September following the U's sticky start to the season. Bloomfield spent his playing career at Wycombe Wanderers after coming through the Academy ranks at Ipswich Town.
Bloomfield made almost 500 appearances in three different divisions across nearly two decades for the Chairboys. The Colchester job is his first in management.
Ones to watch
Alex Newby and Noah Chilvers are Colchester's top scorers this season with three goals apiece. Chilvers did net in the U's win in the corresponding fixture a season ago.
There is plenty of experience in the U's ranks with the likes of Luke Chambers, Alan Judge, Cole Skuse and Freddie Sears all in their mid-30's.
There is youth too though with teenager Junior Tchamadeu and Al-Amin Kazeem likely operating as wing-backs ahead of a back three.
The club have also been busy in the January window so far bringing in Fiacre Keller from Bradford and Arthur Read from Stevenage as well as Connor Wood in a loan move from Leyton Orient.
Recent history
A long-time member of the Football League for most of their existence, Colchester have found themselves in League Two since suffering relegation from League One in 2016.
They did though spend two years in the Championship between 2006 and 2008, achieving a highest finish of 10th place before being relegated to League One after the 2007/08 season.
Their all-time appearance holder is Micky Cook, who featured over 600 times for the club in the 1970's and early 1980's, whilst Tony Adcock netted 149 times across two spells in the 1980's and 1990's.
Team news
Simon Weaver remains without Will Smith, Stephen Dooley, Matty Daly and Kyle Ferguson but will hope to have Danny Grant and Josh Falkingham available for selection following their return to training.
There are doubts however over the fitness of Joe Mattock (heel), Jaheim Headley and Sam Folarin (both illness). Josh Coley (groin) is also a doubt.